A lion in Botswana narrowly avoided a dangerous encounter with an elephant, managing to escape moments before being trampled.
The lion was drinking at a watering hole in Nxai Pan when an elephant approached from behind. Engrossed in quenching its thirst, the lion failed to notice the large bull elephant drawing close, its heavy footsteps muffled by the soft ground.
Just as the elephant raised its foot near the lion’s head, the lion looked up, realized the danger, and darted away.
This close call was captured by Johan Bernard, a 49-year-old photographer from South Africa. Recalling the event, Bernard said, “It was late afternoon, almost dark. Only the lion was at the waterhole. He kept drinking, unaware of the approaching elephant.” Bernard described watching the scene unfold as the elephant closed the last few meters. “When the lion finally looked up, he quickly ran off after spotting the elephant.”
This rare interaction highlights the unpredictable dynamics of wildlife in Botswana’s Nxai Pan.
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