Watch This Massive Elephant Display Incredible Strength and Courage in the Face of a Leopard

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If you think elephants are gentle giants, think again. A recent viral video shows how a massive elephant can display incredible strength and courage in the face of a leopard, one of the most terrifying predators in Africa.

The video (check it out below) shows an elephant walking down a dusty grassland when it suddenly encounters a leopard who happens to be strolling along at the exact same time. Instead of running off, however, the elephant is not intimidated by the surprise. It quickly raises its trunk and ears and trumpets loudly, showing its dominance and aggression. This is a pretty standard territorial display that elephants use to warn off potential threats, leopards included.

The leopard, realizing it isn’t interested in tangoing with an elephant, trots off. The elephant follows it off, flapping its ears and kicking up dust, determined to drive it away from its territory. The video then reveals that the elephant was not alone. Behind it, a large group of elephants, including some babies, emerges from the bushes. The lone elephant must have thought it was protecting the group from the leopard’s attack!

The video is a remarkable example of how elephants can defend themselves and their family from predators, even those as formidable as leopards. That being said, leopards usually avoid elephants, especially adult ones, because they are way too big and strong for them to handle.

What Predators Do Elephants Have?

Elephants are the largest land animals on earth, but they still face some predators. Lions can hunt in prides and attack weak or young elephants, especially at night while they rest. Hyenas and wild dogs can occasionally prey on weak or sick calves, but adult elephants are quite a bit too big to really cause any viable threat. Overall, however, fully grown, healthy adult elephants don’t have much to worry about.

On top of that, elephants congregate in groups and communicate through vocalizations and vibrations via stomping their feet. If there is a threat, they can alert the rest of the group and face it together. Humans are the only major threat that elephants have.

Normal Defense Mechanisms of Elephants

Elephants are well known for their impressive size and strength, and these attributes help them to defend themselves against predators. They have several physical and behavioral defense mechanisms that they can use in dangerous situations.

One of the primary physical defense mechanisms of elephants is their thick skin. This helps protect them from bites and scratches from predators. They also have sharp tusks, which they can use to intimidate and ward off predators.

In addition to their physical attributes, elephants also have several behavioral defense mechanisms. For example, it is normal for elephants to trumpet and charge when they feel threatened by a predator. This can scare away the predator or make them think twice about attacking.

It is also normal for elephants to chase off predators, such as leopards. They will often use their tusks or trunk to hit or swat at the predator until it retreats. This is a valuable defense mechanism for them and helps to keep them safe.

How Big Do Elephants Get?

The size of elephants varies depending on the type. African elephants are the largest land animal, weighing around 5,500-14,000 pounds and reaching up to 13 feet tall. Asian elephants, the smaller of the species, can weigh up to 11,000 pounds and reach up to 9 feet tall.

Elephants grow throughout their life, with newborn African elephants typically weighing around 200 pounds and 2 feet tall. As they grow, they can reach up to 8,000 pounds and 13 feet in height over the next 30-50 years. Asian elephants, on the other hand, are generally smaller than their African counterparts. A newborn calf typically weighs around 80-110 pounds and stands 1.5-2 feet tall. As they mature, they can reach up to 11,000 pounds and 9 feet in height over the next 25-40 years.

Overall, the size of elephants varies significantly based on the species. African elephants are the largest land mammal, while Asian elephants are smaller and lighter. Both species grow rapidly during their early years!