Elephant's Cape Buffalo Attack Caught on Camera

by
posted on June 2, 2016
caterselephantvsbuffaloflipleadimage.gif
Images by Kim Maurer via Caters News Agency

Have you ever seen a Cape buffalo being gored and tossed through the air by an elephant? Kimberly Maurer not only saw it in person, but she has the brutal photos to prove it. While on vacation at the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya, Maurer captured the astonishing encounter up close. 

As reported by Caters News Agency, the buffalo had been sleeping quietly under a tree, but as the elephant approached, it stood up and charged toward her. This was a highly unusual occurrence, as these two species typically live together peacefully. As the buffalo charged, the elephant gored it with her tusks and heaved the buffalo into the air. The buffalo did not survive.

According to Caters News Agency, rangers at the Masai Mara reserve felt it was likely that the buffalo was unwell to act so aggressively toward the elephant, as this type of behavior is not standard. Maurer said of the scene, "I started looking through the images on the back of my camera immediately after the attack and became very excited that I had actually captured the event in detail. This photograph was, no doubt, a once-in-a-lifetime capture for me."

Latest

Micro Grants 1
Micro Grants 1

North Dakota and Hurricane Helene-Impacted Area Micro-Grants Available

Wildlife, shooting, fraternal and nonprofit civic organizations can submit an application for the Encouraging Tomorrow’s Hunters program, a North Dakota Game and Fish Department grant program developed to assist in the recruitment, retention and reactivation of hunters. Application deadline is May 1 and the maximum grant allowed is $3,000.

2025 Predator Gear Roundup

Check out some of the best predator-hunting gear we could put our hands on during the 2025 winter season.

Idaho Bear Hunters Now Required to Pass ID Course

Effective Jan. 1, anyone hunting black bears in Idaho must show proof they have passed a bear identification test to help them differentiate between grizzly bears and black bears.

NRA Competition Shooting Division Launches America’s Rifle Challenge

The NRA Competition Shooting Division is launching The America's Rifle Challenge, an all-AR-based program to both build and test skills for shooters of all levels.

The Stag and the Modern Dilemma

They planned to use a brand-new, cutting-edge cartridge on red stag in “Middle Earth.” But beauracratic kiwi snafus quashed that. So two Americans hunted with “old” cartridges and wondered whether the grass was indeed greener ...

New for 2025: Real Avid Compact Smart-Torq Adjustable Limiter

Real Avid has released its Smart-Torq Adjustable Limiter as a compact and convenient way for professional gunsmiths and at-home hobbyists to make sure they've reached the proper toque for their screws, bolts, or other fixtures.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.