A rare and tense encounter unfolded on the Serengeti plains when an enraged elephant chased a lioness up a tree.
The confrontation began when the lioness made a critical mistake by wandering into the elephant’s territory. Upon discovering the intruder, the elephant relentlessly pursued her across the Central Serengeti.
In a desperate attempt to escape, the lioness sought refuge in the branches of a tree while the elephant tried to reach her from below.
The massive animal extended its trunk, but despite its efforts, it couldn’t grasp the lioness, who roared in distress.
The lioness had become separated from her pride, which was feeding nearby. This intense scene was captured by Dalida and Andrew Innes, a couple from Sydney, Australia, who were on a safari in Tanzania. They described being stunned by the drama that played out over several minutes.
“We were watching a pride of lions devouring their recent kill when we noticed a group of elephants gathered around a tree in the distance. That’s when we saw the lioness stuck in the branches,” said Mrs. Innes. “She had become separated from the pride we were observing.”
The lioness made a quick dash up the tree, trying to escape the elephant’s charge. While lions are considered the top predators of the savannah, they stand little chance against an angry elephant, making the lioness’s decision to climb the tree a wise one.
Mrs. Innes continued, “After some time, the lioness tried to run for it. But the elephant gave chase again, following her for nearly a kilometer until she climbed another tree for safety.”
The elephant persisted, trying several times to grab the lioness, but eventually gave up. After the elephant left, the lioness climbed down from the tree and reunited with her cubs.
“She seemed terrified at first, and it looked like she was running for her life,” Mrs. Innes added. “We’re unsure what the elephant’s intentions were—maybe it was protecting its herd or just asserting dominance.”
The intense encounter ended with the lioness safely back with her pride, and the photographers left with a remarkable story from their Serengeti adventure.
Read more Wildlife News.
