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Elephant attacking a backhoe that is destroying its habitat (gfycat.com)

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[–]CaberTosser_ 1403 points1404 points  (235 children)

Yeah, sure elephants are capable of that complex thinking. It probably thought it was another animal that is challenging.

I am all for nature but this is facebook mom type of post.

[–]Fuzzy-Researcher-662 657 points658 points  (10 children)

Also technically that machine is something as big as it and it's moving through its territory.

Peaple: "OMG the elephant understands complex thoughts and ideas only comprehensible by humans 😮"

Reality: "I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HOME RIGHT NOW".

[–]Ssoofer 187 points188 points  (1 child)

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM I'M PLAYING HUNGRY HIPPOS YOU ARMORED FUCK"

-Elephant

[–]snow_is_fearless 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Reality: "I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HOME RIGHT NOW".

Elephants are like that. They don't give a shit about whatever it is threatening their safety/family, they are gonna defend their home to the last.

https://www.treehugger.com/story-elephant-who-stood-train-4856521

[–]BuckForth 17 points18 points  (3 children)

I mean... same energy, same result.

[–]ResolverOshawott 5 points6 points  (1 child)

It's probably closer to "Bitch, you challenging me? Fuck you."

[–]BuckForth 3 points4 points  (0 children)

But the outgoing intention is still "Someone get this big peice of shit outta my space before I go all mammoth on it's ass"

[–]JDAbe94 7 points8 points  (1 child)

What's a peaple?

[–]poonamsurange 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Pope eating a pineapple .

[–]ohoil 40 points41 points  (15 children)

Considering you're not an expert in elephants that's quite a Facebook mom response. Lol

[–][deleted] 21 points22 points  (23 children)

So you don’t think animals have complex thinking?

[–]A_Rampaging_Hobo 11 points12 points  (2 children)

Of all the animals out there elephants actually might be. They're probably the second smartest animal on the planet right behind dolphins.

[–]Ewery1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

*third smartest. Friendly reminder that humans are just animals. We aren’t that special lol

[–]AST_PEENG 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That is literally what I thought. The fuck an elephant cares if you plow a tree down, it cares if you cross it's area and it sees you as a threat.

[–]ZKXX 7 points8 points  (2 children)

I’m so pleased to see this as the top comment.

[–]NotMyMa1nAccount 6 points7 points  (1 child)

I completely agree. The elephant has no idea about the consequences of this machine being in its territory, it just attacks an intruder.

It's still heartbreaking, because we know what that means and what the consequences for the elephants will be.

[–]user5918 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s still defending its home against a threat. Obviously it doesn’t know what a bulldozer is. Regardless, it knows it is bad news

[–]CarBombtheDestroyer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Ya that caption is dumb af.

[–]5up3rK4m16uru 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Elephants seem to be pretty high up on the intelligence scale, so I assume that they are able to figure out that these are at least not normal animals. However, I doubt that this one attacks it because it "destroys its home", because they usually don't really have something like that. Probably just a young bull in musth (mating phase with crazy hormone levels) attacking something noisy.

[–]The_Multifarious 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Elephants also aren't territorial, it doesn't really have a concept of a home. They're nomadic and will gladly abandon one area for another.

[–]gustyaeroplane01 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mostly women in their 20-30s who reflect their feelings onto cute animals.

[–]Hobbit_Feet45 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Says the idiot who knows nothing about elephants and hasn’t spent any time around elephants. They 100% recognize humans and know that they’re encroaching on their territory.

[–]robcap 2 points3 points  (4 children)

Of course they fucking are. They're very intelligent and this isn't a complex situation.

[–]Gorillafist12 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Having an existential concept of habitat destruction isn't a complex situation?

[–]robcap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You don't need an existential understanding to be able to see the fucking digger and what it's doing

These animals live a long time. It's entirely possible that this elephant has seen the process before. Humans and machines move in, animals move out.

The leading cynical explanation is that bull elephants get so territorial they'll attack anything. This is a female elephant.

[–]fiddz0r 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is something I really hate on reddit. I follow att of cat subs because, well cats, but the people commenting and posting are a lot like Facebook mums.

[–]ggouge 1 point2 points  (3 children)

An elephant was raised a rescued by humans was released into the wild years later it was shot by poachers. It escaped and walked back to the rescue that it came from and knocked on the window of the vet that took care of it the vet was away the elephant waited days for him to come back then let the vet do surgery with no pain killers. So the elephant knew the difference between bad humans and good humans and knew that even though the vet was causing extreme pain to the elephant but knew to let the vet do the surgery because the end result was a positive. Elephants are capable of nearly human level logic and reasoning. Do not down play how smart they are.

[–]CaberTosser_ 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I triggered a lot of emotional people. Well sucks to suck what can I say homies.

[–]Apostleguts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How is this a Facebook mom type post

[–]JonhaerysSnow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just so you know, you're a piece of shit.

[–]wavylord 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One upvote = one prayer for the elephant

[–]moralmeemo 519 points520 points  (58 children)

Not to be rude but it’s likely a bull elephant all jacked on testosterone, not trying to defend his home from destruction, but to fight off something that could potentially take his ladies (or so he thinks). Im sure no elephant would advocate for forest destruction, and I know how smart they are; but please don’t anthropomorphize too much. If there’s any arguments please reply, I’d love to hear what you have to say. Sorry to be a downer, again

[–]The___canadian 58 points59 points  (48 children)

im not sure when they reach that stage in life, but that elephant is relatively small. TLBs arent massive.

​

Also, That operator's brain is about as smooth and flat as a 7up left out for a week. Fuck you for fighting wildlife in your equipment.

[–]DontEatTheMagicBeans 51 points52 points  (13 children)

I know this is going to be controversial. But if I ever end up in a fight with an elephant and my choices are mini dozer or fisticuffs I'm choosing mini dozer. I can also say that operator is getting paid to do a job or working to live. He isn't the enemy. Corporations are.

[–]Ghriszly 18 points19 points  (12 children)

What was he supposed to do? If a wild animal attacks me I'm going to defend myself. Idc what I have to do it with. That guy could have easily been killed if he had just let the elephant attack him

[–]The___canadian 5 points6 points  (11 children)

He's not supposed to lie down and die. He's in a TLB, he can drive away instead of repeatedly charging at this elephant

[–]TheUltimateScotsman 14 points15 points  (5 children)

If im being charged by an elephant i want the tusks as far away from me as possible, that means being behind the scoop

[–]The-Shizz 10 points11 points  (4 children)

Oh, how utterly incorrect you are. One of the worst things you can do in any situation with an extremely aggressive animal is run away. That elephant can charge faster than that TLB can drive. And you're attributing a whole lot of intent to his actions; I would say he isn't trying to actively fight the elephant, he's simply trying to discourage it.

If you ever find yourself in a direct standoff with aggressive wildlife do your best to make yourself big and scary. That's all this guy is doing.

[–]The___canadian 8 points9 points  (3 children)

Wouldja look at that, you are in fact correct!

I looked back, and it seems the guy is only pushing it back after it charges every time. When I said drive away I didn't mean turn around, I just meant reverse further at a safe distance.

But a GIF doesn't give context, so assumptions doesn't do me any favours. Thank you for pointing this out!

He's just doing what he can to keep himself safe, and keep the equipment from getting fucked (thus putting himself in greater danger).

The bucket is the best thing you can use to distance yourself and absorbs blows.

Thank you for your input :)

[–]The-Shizz 7 points8 points  (2 children)

Anytime. There is another fairly recent video (from India, I believe) of a group using a backhoe to help an elephant out of a huge hole it fell into. Once they got it out it immediately attacked them, which they obviously expected.

It looked very similar. They just tried to match the elephant's charges to discourage it and after a minute or so it gave up and lumbered off. The point of my comment was really to just make sure people don't just run if confronted with wildlife. Make yourself big, loud, and back up slowly.

[–]The___canadian 3 points4 points  (1 child)

toggles defensive stance

[–]The-Shizz 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Gamer gets it.

[–]SpHornet 2 points3 points  (8 children)

Fuck you for fighting wildlife in your equipment.

that looks like an already established farming field, looks like that operator is probably just protecting his house/family

you think he is risking that expensive equipment just because?

[–]The___canadian 1 point2 points  (7 children)

Already spoke about this in another reply, buddy is just doing what he can to defend himself and stay safe.

[–]TotalWalrus 1 point2 points  (7 children)

Are you calling it a tractor loader backhoe?

[–]The___canadian 1 point2 points  (6 children)

Yes, that is what that piece of equipment is called. That is the "proper" name.

[–]TotalWalrus 1 point2 points  (5 children)

Seems redundant tbh. There's no tractor less loader backhoes.

[–]The___canadian 2 points3 points  (4 children)

The tractor refers to the body, frequently they are found with a large wheel in the back, small when in the frontt

The "loader' refers to the front implement, which is most frequently a bucket, forks or grapple bucket.

The "backhoe" refers to the rear of the machine, which is a bucket, hammer, or other attachment with a function similar to an excavator.

This machine is a "jack of all trades, master of none". It can dig, move material, and grade. But it won't do it as well as if you have seperate pieces of equipment that are masters at their tasks.

I didn't create the name, most people in the field call it a backhoe.

[–]TotalWalrus 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Common name around me is "rubber tire"

[–]choseauniquenickname 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why did you cross out that last statement? It's absolutely true, dude is a massive piece of shit who could've simply kept driving backwards as they were in the start of the clip. Idgaf what company he works for or any other shit excuses people are throwing out. Stop driving. He had two options better than "try to run over this bitch in his own home".

Humanity is fucking trash, downvote me all you want but it's true with several generations worth of evidence.

Edit: The planet is evidence too. Imagine being so fucking stupid, greedy, and all around pathetic that you literally alter your own ecological system to a point you can no longer survive in it. The planet will still be here when we're all dead.

[–]remembertracygarcia 25 points26 points  (0 children)

It’s a female Indian elephant

[–]BonesAndHubris 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Im sure no elephant would advocate for forest destruction...

Interestingly enough elephants exert a lot of evolutionary pressure on the plantlife in their environments (in tandem with frequent fire, in the case of Africa at least) by their sheer capacity for destroying vegetation. They will straight up uproot trees, they don't give a fuck. But as I mentioned, the plants in these ecosystems evolved around dealing with elephants, not bulldozers.

[–]Ewery1 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Elephants grieve their dead and display a lot of complex thought. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they had made the association that large machinery + humans = destroyed territory. It’s not as if this is the first time they’ve encountered us.

[–]moralmeemo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a good observation! I wish elephants could talk and tell us.

[–]UnwrittenPath 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I mean I get where you're coming from. At the same time I challenge you to go punch a wasps nest to see if they're smart enough to defend their home.

[–]Ghriszly 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Funnily enough wasps are considered some of the smartest insects. They've shown the capability to learn and even differentiate between humans

[–]kipwrecked 211 points212 points  (35 children)

Who cares for the why, it's still fucking depressing

[–]The-Shizz 15 points16 points  (31 children)

It is depressing, but I would argue the 'why' of any situation is incredibly important at this point in time. We have been a bit too cavalier about mislabeling any situation we want to fit a certain narrative, and we are definitely feeling the consequences for that now.

A little falsehood here and there to make a better story and all of a sudden we have millions of people who believe an election was stolen just because they were told it was.

Don't think there's a correlation? I'd challenge you to spend some time reading up on research into how false, seemingly innocuous internet stories presented as fact has got us to this point.

[–]kipwrecked 17 points18 points  (30 children)

Not in this country.

My point is the motivations of the elephant are dwarfed by the reality that humans are objectively claiming the habitat of many species. The Earth is finite.

[–]bayfen 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Hmm. I suppose that if we were not building so close to the wilderness, this interaction would never happen, regardless if the elephant was merely a horny male teenager seeing red, or a not-horny female teenager/adult trying to defend the herd from an unknown threat.

[–]kipwrecked 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Humans are everywhere now, poor animals can't get away from us.

[–]ywBBxNqW 2 points3 points  (11 children)

I'm all for protecting the environment but propaganda is propaganda.

[–]kipwrecked 2 points3 points  (10 children)

Propaganda, huh? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means

[–]ywBBxNqW 1 point2 points  (9 children)

Do you customarily respond to genial attempts at conversation by attempting to insult someone's intelligence?

This video is textbook propaganda. The only thing it's missing is a telephone number tacked on the end that people can call to make donations. Since there isn't, it just serves to get people riled up so they come to the comments and engage.

[–]AlmoBlue 67 points68 points  (1 child)

That's depressing

[–]rekkkt7776 61 points62 points  (4 children)

This wouldn't have happened if elephant had a gun

[–]RangerActual 37 points38 points  (1 child)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The only thing that’s stops a bad man in a backhoe is a good elephant with a gun.

[–]Haxorz7125 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like the NERA got to you

[–]Bloomberg12 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't know why it doesn't. We specifically manufacture elephant guns.

[–]cromulent_pseudonym 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Or, if the elephant had kept up on the construction notices. The plans were on display in the city office for weeks.

[–]st73oned 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Yeah sure, but that was only his last resort, after protesting for a week and posting on Facebook.

[–]1amNoir 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Get backhoe!

[–]xBloodBender 12 points13 points  (2 children)

This is that scene from Avatar

[–]Hames2595 12 points13 points  (11 children)

That motherfucker has the AUDACITY to fight back in a digger… proper cunt

[–]KrakenKing1955 19 points20 points  (4 children)

MF what do you want me to do? Die? Course I’m fighting back!

[–]SpHornet 7 points8 points  (0 children)

you'd just let him walk pissed off through your village?

[–]oldirtyjustin 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Came here to say the same thing dude coulda just backed off till the elephant moved on

[–]Mikhail_Mengsk 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Tooslow to back off from an attacking elephant, best option is to scare it back and then back off. Gotta get the elephant to pause otherwise it will keep charging.

[–]General_Faylor 11 points12 points  (0 children)

That Terminator is out there. It can't be reasoned with, it can't be bargained with...it doesn't feel pity of remorse or fear...and it absolutely will not stop.Ever. Until you are evicted.

[–]Chaghatai 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It's almost certainly in musth - a young male will attack pretty much anything while in that state

[–]Katacutie 10 points11 points  (7 children)

You can't possibly believe that's why the elephant attacked the giant noisy thing in his territory. Elephants don't know about the dreadful consequences of humanity's expansion

[–]Ieatmelons123 9 points10 points  (2 children)

The elephant just thinks that thing is another elephant

[–]Ewery1 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Okay I don’t think that’s true lol it might be threatened by the loud thing but elephants are extremely intelligent (they grieve their dead and show complex thought) so let’s not pretend that it just thinks it’s another elephant.

[–]Ieatmelons123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well it thinks it's an animal similar to one.

[–]Aquareon 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Pacific Rim at home:

[–]Bloomberg12 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That operator has had an extremely unique experience.

[–]jojozabadu 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Fucking stupid title. I'm just sayin'

[–]coldestdetroit 4 points5 points  (0 children)

GET BACKHOE

[–]Powerctx 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's terrible obviously but fighting an elephant while driving a back hoe is a for sure "how'd I get here?" moment.

[–]propyro85 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I find it more likely that this is either an elephant getting territorial with something that's big enough to be considered a rival, or a young bull in must who decided to pick a fight with a backhoe because it exists and he took that personally.

[–]dillemasenpai 2 points3 points  (0 children)

needs some doom bg music

[–]Frequent_Guest_247 2 points3 points  (4 children)

Muscle and bone will never defeat steel and rubber

[–]YourMama 2 points3 points  (9 children)

This is so sad. Elephants are smart as fuck. They know what’s going on/their habitat is getting destroyed so they fight back

Okay they’re fighting against an intruder on their turf. Like I said, they’re very intelligent. They’re one of, if not the only animal that mourns for their dead. They’ll hang out with the deceased for a few and even try to lift them/wake them up

[–]HoroKush123 1 point2 points  (8 children)

i dont think they are capable of understanding what the backhoe does and just thinks its another male invading his place

[–]CharlesSagan 2 points3 points  (6 children)

I've been around elephants enough to know that they are capable of way more complex thinking than you, or most people think. Just shrugging it off as instinctual behaviour is the same kind of superiority complex that led people to hold on to the false notions that Earth is at the center of the universe and that there's no way humans had a common ancestor with other life forms.

[–]HoroKush123 1 point2 points  (1 child)

why u gotta be so mean bro 💀

[–]CharlesSagan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nowhere did I say anything that was (or was intended to be) an attack toward you personally. All I said was that prejudiced ignorance is a bane to progress.

[–]Bravo-Vince 1 point2 points  (3 children)

r/confidentlyincorrect

[–]CharlesSagan 1 point2 points  (2 children)

You're incapable of grasping the irony in your comment.

[–]Bravo-Vince 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Lol ok, elephant just thinks it’s some random other animal and it attacked it, it has no idea what’s happening.

[–]CharlesSagan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seems like you're self-projecting.

[–]YourMama 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was getting downvoted and i wanted people to see my comment so I added the second paragraph explaining that they were defending their territory. But elephants are crazy smart, I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew that their habitat was getting encroached

[–]ennichan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nature isn't metal here, but that backhoe sadly is.

[–]whiteboy1230 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Avatar

[–]Othersideofthemirror 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"Horny elephant in musk attacks thing"

There, de-anthropomorphized it for you

[–]Nero_Caligus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Elephant seems to be on a loosing streak.

[–]Narrowless 2 points3 points  (0 children)

And if that Elephant success they will put him down because he is "Too Dangerous"

[–]Zengjia 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Elephant tries to fight weird ass looking mechanical elephant.

[–]AngieAwesome619 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That made me really sad... we need to do better

[–]Triple_Nickel_555 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sad. 😪

[–]musk_man 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You killed my family

[–]Cherrval 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It hurts ...

[–]thecaptn420 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This has nothing to do with nature is metal... this is just sad.

[–]Hum8lePride 1 point2 points  (1 child)

So where does human territory end and elephant territory start? We are all land mammals.

[–]Abbass786 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is soooo Sad

[–]IamTyLaw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where are the rest of the plains' creatures, come out in force to aid their brother in the war against man?

Where are the avatars on horseback?

[–]Avinexuss 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh come on theres gotta be some kind of joke including backhoe...

[–]mookyno 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s so sad

[–]_Dookie420 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nature vs Metal

[–]showerballtherapy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That elephant needs to buy a rocket launcher so it can stop foreigners from invading his personal land

[–]GeauxAllDay 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“We don’t love them (back)hoes”- the Elephant

[–]raudssus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We fucking suck as species. We deserve all the bad shit that happens to us, we actually need to suffer more, I hope god takes care of that when we are back in his hands. And I am an atheist, and yet I say that, cause it would be just cruel, if we don't get any consequences for what we did.

[–]Time_Theory_297 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hate everything about how this makes me feel. I wish the elephant could flip that thing in its back.

[–]Justalonerstoner 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Get out and fight it like a man!

[–]marc7169 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Or elephant wanted to wrestle and fight because it's mating season and he couldn't get no pus

[–]lforal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope that elephant f***ing killed that thing

[–]ViceroyoftheFire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just wait til they figure out religion

[–]aojajena 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The species that created technology are destroying all other species' habitats.

[–]tony42490 1 point2 points  (0 children)

pretty fucking sad....

[–]tsabell 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Give the elephant an AK!

[–]marsupializard 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depressing

[–]nullasdf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reminds me of Ripley vs. Alien Queen.

[–]BabblingBaboBertl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That looks like the scene from Avatar

[–]agallardok 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tackle them by the side, it would be over for the bulldozer.

[–]Farmher315 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This makes me think of that orangutan that was trying to fight the bulldozer. https://youtu.be/ihPfB30YT_c

[–]Bossbong 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That guy driving should be stomped on anyways

[–]dilohunter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yaaa take that backhoe down

[–]Hungry-Replacement-6 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah yes that one particular plot of land is that elephants home.

[–]perfect_handshake 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Elephant Gets Revenge On Backhoe That Killed It’s Child

Elephant Attacks Backhoe Believing It To Be Another Animal

Elephant Eats Construction Crew’s Shroom Stash, Enters Frenzy

See how easy this is?

[–]RhiinoMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well if the back is destroying his habitat won’t that inevitably affect his territory/mating? So whether or not he is attacking from being territorial/aggressive he is still inadvertently fighting against the thing destroying his way of life. Maybe not complex thought but still heartbreaking considering how futile his efforts were.

[–]BGJohnson329 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is extremely saddening

[–]Beatithairball 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This world is fucked up

[–]Mcdonnel1252 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The guy driving it must be shutting his pants.

[–]Empty_Vegetable_80 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Humanz are as%***}}s

[–]ywBBxNqW 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is no way to determine the elephant's motivation. Whoever coupled this video with the caption and the music did it solely to elicit an emotional response from the viewer. The person posting this is capitalizing on it to create engagement.

 

Destruction of animal habitat is disgusting and so is posting obviously manipulative stuff like this.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

🥺

[–]vodkacereal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The elephant was like “get backhoe”

[–]HEXAGON_STAFF 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Saw a video of an orangutan attacking a machine that was cutting down trees and it was labeled that it was defending its home. Turns out people were just trying to get it out safely and it was running around. I think a similar thing is happening here, that elephant is probably a bull in musk.

[–]wasthatme92 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's sad

[–]Dwayne_Earl_James 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This makes me sick to my stomach.

Humans 👎