Watch This Undersized Buffalo Terrify A Massive Elephant With Its Piercing Gaze

Oh boy, if looks could kill! The buffalo in this short clip has had enough of being chased and decides that they are going to have a go at being the dominant species around here. This fascinating footage was recorded near Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. It shows an elephant starting to follow a buffalo but the tables are soon turned. A very hard stare from the buffalo makes the elephant reverse in a hurry!

Watch the Buffalo Lay Down the Law in the Video Below!

Elephants vs Buffalos: How Are They Different

The geographic ranges of elephants and buffalos overlap so they are therefore bound to encounter each other from time to time. Both are native species of Africa although elephants are also found in Asia. Elephants are the largest land animal on the planet and can grow up to 12,000 pounds! Buffalos grow up to about 2,000 pounds. Both are herbivores – buffalos graze on plants and elephants eat any type of vegetation – a lot of it! So, this is clearly not a predator-prey confrontation.

Buffalo are not listed amongst the top animals that are able to kill an elephant but even so, this elephant is wary. If it developed into a chase, buffalos can charge at 37 mph but elephants can reach only 25 mph so in theory most buffalos could run away from an elephant.

Do Elephants And Buffalo Fight?

Elephants are usually peaceful creatures that happily co-exist alongside other animals. However, there are exceptions. Mothers will become very protective of their calves and will see off animals that they perceive as a threat. Males can also become aggressive due to a change in sex hormone levels during musth. Also, any elephant that is sick and injured can be very defensive. Whatever the reason, this particular elephant did not want the buffalo to be there.

So, what about the buffalo? They may look like a peaceful lumbering plant-eater but African buffalos are regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa! Older bulls tend to be the most grumpy and will charge at other animals and humans. Mothers protecting calves and wounded buffalos can also be very aggressive. Their primary method of attack is to charge. The death stare that this buffalo delivers looks like a precursor to that and so the elephant decides it’s not worth the risk!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jeremy Lintott/Shutterstock.com