The elephant, weighing about three tons, unexpectedly charged directly at the tourist vehicle, causing it to shake violently and even lift off the ground. The animal then used its trunk to rip open the door, reaching inside the car, apparently searching for more fruit.
Liliya Mikhailovskaya, 43, said her family "nearly lost their lives".
"Just minutes earlier I was filming, I never imagined that what seemed like a harmless moment feeding an elephant would turn into chaos", the Russian tourist said, adding that her son was forced to run barefoot to escape.
The elephant stopped when another tourist vehicle approached, honking its horn and firing warning shots into the air. The car sustained significant damage. Fortunately, no one in the tourist family was injured, and they left the park shortly after.
"We don't want to see elephants anymore. Thank God we are still alive", Mikhailovskaya added.
Local officials suggested the elephant might be in musth, a period when testosterone levels surge, making it aggressive and difficult to control. This condition can last for about 20 days.
Moment an elephant attacks a tourist vehicle. Video: The Sun
Last week, in eastern India, residents of several villages were forced to sleep on rooftops or climb trees to avoid danger after an aggressive elephant rampaged, killing at least 22 people, including four children. Videos showed villagers fleeing in panic as the elephant charged. Authorities mobilized over 100 forest rangers to track and tranquilize the elephant to prevent further attacks.
Aditya Narayan, chief forest ranger for the Chaibasa region, stated the attacking elephant did not choose targets. "Anyone who appeared in front of it was trampled", Narayan said.
Sri Lanka's national parks are attractive destinations for tourists, known for their rich ecosystems and some of the highest wildlife densities in South Asia. In parks such as Yala, Udawalawe, and Minneriya, visitors use specialized vehicles, traveling on dirt roads to observe Asian elephants, leopards, wild buffalo, crocodiles, and various rare bird species in their natural habitats.
Activities within the national parks are typically organized in the early morning or late afternoon, when animals are more active in foraging, and are strictly managed to ensure both tourist safety and conservation efforts.
By Tuan Anh (Source: The Sun)
