See Who Blinks First When a Ginormous Elephant and Hungry Tiger Come Face to Face

Continue reading for our analysis...

Generally regarded as gentle creatures, elephants have another side to them that can intimidate the largest of all the big cats — the tiger. In the video at the bottom of the page, you see what happens when a tiger gets a little too close for comfort. The elephant is quick to let it know it has to keep moving.

Can Tigers and Elephants Coexist Harmoniously?

There are several places in the world where elephants and tigers coexist, including India and some parts of Asia. In Sumatra, not only do tigers and elephants call the forests home, but they also coexist with orangutans, rhinos, clouded leopards, and sun bears. Tigers and elephants aren’t necessarily harmonious, singing kumbaya at firelight, but they have learned to give one another space. When one animal encroaches, the other offers a fair warning that they’ve come a bit too close.

Why Do Elephants Make Trumpeting Sounds?

Elephants make trumpeting sounds for varying reasons. They could be expressing their excitement, but they could also be expressing their fear. They may trumpet happily but they may trumpet angrily. You have to consider context clues to determine what emotion an elephant may be feeling. In the clip, you can tell by the elephant’s body language that it is neither happy nor excited — it’s ticked off!

Elephant Scares Off Tiger

When the video below starts, you can see an elephant in the foreground standing in muddy water. It has a lone tusk. In the background atop a small hill, a tiger is walking slowly. You can hear the excited murmurs of the crowd gathered behind the camera. The elephant notices when the tiger walks by and turns its head to follow its movements. The tiger seems uninterested in the elephant but approaches the water from behind the elephant.

The elephant, aware of its presence, does not appreciate that the tiger is closing in. It takes a few steps forward in the water, slowly exiting, and keeping its eyes on the tiger. Once it exits the watering hole, it turns toward the tiger and starts charging. At this point, the tiger has gotten the hint that the watering hole is taken but the elephant needs to be heard loud and clear. It starts to trumpet and stands at the top of the hill, watching the tiger retreat.