Two tourists had a narrow escape after a close encounter with an elephant that charged at them as they stopped to take a selfie on January 31.
The incident occurred along National Highway 766, which runs through Bandipur National Park in southern India.
The tourists, who had exited their vehicle to pose with the elephant, were in danger when the animal suddenly became aggressive and charged toward them.
A video of the terrifying moment shows the men sprinting down the road, trying to outrun the massive animal.
While a third person drove alongside the fleeing pair in a red car, one of the men tripped and fell, putting him at serious risk of being trampled.
Fortunately, the man managed to avoid the elephant’s blows and quickly crawled into the nearby forest to escape. The elephant, meanwhile, lost interest in the man and turned its attention toward a passing vehicle.
Savad C.A., a tourist who witnessed the scene while traveling with his family, described the moment as “terrifying.”
He recounted, “At one point, we thought one of the men would be trampled. The man who fell miraculously escaped as the elephant turned toward another car just in time.”
This incident highlights the dangers of approaching wild animals. Recently, a tourist in Kerala was fined for attempting to take a selfie with an elephant herd.
Local forest authorities warn that trespassing on protected land carries penalties, including imprisonment of up to three years and fines as high as 100,000 rupees.
Following the event, the Karnataka Forest Department has opened an investigation and is working to identify the two tourists involved.
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