That's some heavy petting! Tourists stuck in their hatchback as amorous elephant gets frisky on South African safari

• Massive bull elephant decided to get up close and personal with parked car
• Occupants hung on for dear life as it burst the car's tires and broke chassis
• It was during musth period, when elephants become extremely aggressive

Daily Mail | 6 August 2014

This is the moment a bull elephant on musth - when its testosterone levels can reach 60 times greater than normal - decided to get closely acquainted with a parked hatchback.

The two terrified occupants of this VW Polo found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time as a giant elephant stooped down to rub itself against the vehicle's roof and bonnet.

The incredible images were taken by Armand Grobler, 21, a field guide and lodge manager, in Pilanesburg National Park in South Africa.

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The elephant was thought to have been on musth - a period of time in which its testosterone levels skyrocket

There were two people inside the car at the time the massive bull elephant started playing with it

He said: 'I was doing ethology - the study of animal behaviour - at the time, so I had a basic understanding of what was going on.

'The elephant was presumably on musth, which is a time that an elephant male has an excess amount of testosterone, turning even the calmest Dumbo into a raging bull.

'Yet even though it was in this condition, it displayed no signs of aggression or frustration and was in a more playful mood.'

Elephants frequently use logs, small trees and rocks to relieve an itch or remove parasites - but with the car so close to hand, it was a chance too good to pass up.

Mr Grobler added: 'We were unsure of what to do in the situation when the elephant made contact with the car, and when the car was being crushed, we feared for the lives of the driver and passenger but our efforts were very limited as to what we could do.

'The all-round emotion that was within our vehicle, as we watched in horror, was that we were rushed with adrenaline yet terrified and helpless.

 

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