Duration 2:43

Seminal elephant interaction with Alan McSmith

by Alan McSmith

1 971 145 watched

12 K

Published 13 Mar 2017

Just as elephant are ecological keystones, they are keystone to a greater awareness. They are ambassadors in a sense. Ambassadors of an ancient order of empathy, which is fundamentally connected to our well being

Category

Comments - 1102

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@werty7837 years ago I tried the same technique with a bouncer while i had a good whiskey drunk going. Sadly, he did not respect the laws of the jungle. 1177
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@xxTC-96xx3 years ago I like that the elephant tried one more time and kicked the brush when it didn' t work haha. 274
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@gerRule3 years ago This man doesnt turn on the shower he just stares at the shower hose until it starts crying. 156
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@jeffreydykes66847 years ago As a former elephant keeper, i know that when they typically charge, you don' t run - you actually take a step forward. It blows their mind that instead . ...Expand 1355
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@CharIie837 years ago Elephant is like, " well this is awkward" 917
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@prateekmehta115 years ago The elephant wasn' t charging
he was coming to help the man lift his gigantic balls of steel. 293
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@superman000013 years ago Elephant: sorry, gents, this is private land. If you insist on filming here, ill have to make a small charge. 50
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@sarahbennett82866 years ago This is quite literally the most impressive thing i have ever seen. 162
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@helplmchoking3 years ago Incredible understanding. Alan moves forward as the elephant does, but only enough to show he is not afraid and is confident, not so much as to be aggressive. then as soon as the charge is done, he backs up and shows he' s not interested in fighting anymore than the elephant is, he' s basically he' ll fight if he has to, but doesn' t want it.
not only does the elephant get it, it doesn' t really want a fight either, it' s concerned that this creature means him harm, but it sees his confidence and resolve and doubts if it could win if it came to contact.
the best part is that they both back down and leave together, neither has lost or won any kind of dominance, just a mutual recognition of danger. ...Expand 15
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@siddheshmahadik69215 years ago Well after that i found that elephant sitting near river and evaluating his meaning of life. 203
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@kevinmckenny5205 years ago I love when it kicks the tree. Its so pissed he didnt run. 69
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@alanmcsmith94336 years ago Dear all,
Thank you for taking the time to comment on my seminal elephant encounter video and it would be great to respond by sharing the story behind it.
The video, filmed on a wilderness trail, is a one-in-a-million encounter. It is authentic and the elephant is wild, not trained. Neither are there any AK47s, snipers or nuclear warheads behind me.
As a wilderness guide i strive to avoid confrontations with wild animals, and in 30 years of guiding, have never deliberately provoked one. The default reaction of wild animals, including big game, is to avoid encounters with humans.
However, the reality is that things do not always go according to the book.
Then what? As a guide, and have to deal with the scenario before you.
With all the hindsight in the world, would not have done anything differently. I did not get myself into a situation, i got myself and our trail party out of one. How evenly the bull walks away at the end, comfortable enough to turn his back on us, is a testament to this.
I would NEVER suggest that anyone tries this! If you are a guide then i urge you to use extreme caution whilst walking.
In the jungles of social media sensationalism, the lack of proper context is often a casualty. It took me 18 months to post the video online because of this, but i wanted to share the wonder of elephants.
Therefore i urge you all to look beyond and recognize the significance of meaningful wilderness encounters. That modern man still shares a kinship with the wild. That our natural world and its conservation is absolutely essential to our well-being.
That in order to maintain our own respect and dignity, we must treat our environment in the same way.
My message is about a transformative view of elephant awareness.
And wilderness conservation. It is time to view these animals through a different lens, a lens that also incorporates our own wholeness and sacred attitudes.
The encounter was after all about the elephant, not me.
Please visit for more.
With wild warm wilderness wishes,
Alan McSmith. .. ...Expand 921
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@raymonddez24537 years ago The elephant respected the man more when he stood his ground while remaining calm versus screaming and running. He even tried him a few more times but . ...Expand 309
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@ultimatecrusader99073 years ago Ranger man: doesn' t run
elephant: " you weren' t supposed to do that. " 22
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@johnmuehlberger22697 years ago I couldn' t go on a safari with this guy as i would be constantly having to change my underwear. 286
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@Azizsomething7 years ago Alan usedhaki on that elephant. He has the potential to be the pirate king. 96
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@RLSova3 years ago I love how the elephant kicked the bush to attempt to scare him. 23
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@bigby98656 years ago Honestly, who brings a trunk to a stick fight??? 118
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@rivertrash98626 years ago What' s even more impressive is how normal you walk with those giant balls. 13
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@TerryOffDairy3 years ago Elephant was like for the last time, i dont want your vehicle extended warranty. 11
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@murrayforbes7 years ago Showing just how fantastic the relationship between man and nature can really be. Complete respect for the animal and the man from the animal. Years of . ...Expand 143
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@picksbypat6 years ago After seeing this, i would trust this man with my life. 18
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@michaelkarkut50665 years ago After he turned around and said " i' m actually not a guide but i stayed at a holiday inn express last night" 28
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@SStesta905 years ago Camera man remaining calm and capturing it, is the true hero! 8
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@juliomendez1177 years ago Shit made me drop my phone and start running! 77
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@rosewaters25336 years ago Its not simple calm energy. He reads the elephant well and knows how to reciprocate in kind. Elephant looks almost bewildered at how this person can speak their language lol. 7
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@Mo-fz1to4 years ago Yo alan took a step forward and the elephant was like
this wasnt supposed to happen. 8
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@natahliasmith28486 years ago Wild animals are predictable in most cases but not in all.
my hat go' s of to this man standing his ground and staying calm. I certainly would' ve elephant' s are magnificent creatures. Such beauty, power and grace. ...Expand 5
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@nyc100213 years ago Thats the ballsiest thing ive seen in my entire life. 5
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@HakarDoski7 years ago He isn' t tough
he probably had a dragon behind the camera. 54
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@gabbyhyman12465 years ago That elephant really put on the brakes during that first charge. Amazing snowplowing. 7
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@ShashwatPanda6 years ago Man has got balls of steel, no doubt in my mind now. Mad, mad respect for him 5
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@2charliep5 years ago What a magnificent creature, so beautiful tusks and all. 3
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@malbecks3166 years ago " wait, is that a stick you got there? .
uh, never mind. " 7
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@Flistered5 years ago Surprised this guy isn' t making the tectonic plates shift with his giant balls of steel. 10
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@carpet69mc5 years ago Legend says that the poor elephant is still cured by one of the best shrinks in the world. 8
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@gybx40945 years ago It' s amazing how fast that huge creature can move.
i would rather look at it from 200 yards with a telescope! 7
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@arnelantiquina42144 years ago This must be the priority of youtube to be recommend. This content should have many views and this channel should have a millions of subscribers.
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@s.kthesinger27645 years ago Salute to that guy. And the cameraman as well! 2
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@matthewhuxtable15576 years ago My favourite part is when alan turns to the cameraman at the end and asks, " you all right? " 3
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@Rangelandsafaris2 years ago Amazing experienced with an experienced guide, thanks for sharing this amazing moment in the wilderness.
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@nikwolf23147 years ago Really nice. I watch this over and over. Beautiful nature, and also this man who shows us this. Tnx.
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@davidjohns846 years ago Magnificient animal protecting his/her territory - scary moments when the elephant charged and only someone with experience would have stood thir ground . ...Expand 6
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@PrasangaBasnayake5 years ago An elephant can hear your heartbeat and understand if you are scared or not. Alan here completely calm and cameraman is unconscious. 2
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@davimanly7 years ago Unless in musth season, a bull elephant wouldn' t try for a murderous attack and usually happy with these mock attacks just to puff up his pride (imagine a 60 kg animal scared of an 75 kg man! 64
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@desertcafe6 years ago Well done, sir. My hat is off to you. A lesson for us all. 1
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@SuccessforLifester3 years ago He is really a man of steel. And the camera man too. 3
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@progarcia47784 years ago Thank you for this demonstration i will definitely try this new learning. 1
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@damianvelazquez61035 years ago Only god can create such a beautiful masterpiece. 39
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@erogenesisart31115 years ago Thank you alan for showing this world how amazing this world can be, and how mind-blowing it is to be a human being in it. I worked in wildlife parks before, . ...Expand 2
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@MrCherryflex7 years ago Wow. What a bravo man! Bravo alan best wildlife clip of the year.
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@clickfeedvideo27435 years ago Luffy, learning haki while being the camera man and giving us updates with rayleigh was pretty sweet. 2
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@jackr.39456 years ago Bravo! Brilliant! Love elephants and protect them everyone!
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@purplehaze23583 years ago That elephant wasnt actually charging. He was just pulled in by the gravitational pull of his moon-sized balls. 2
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@ntdtv5 years ago Hello. I wanted to kindly remind you that i sent you a message about your video. Please read my previous comment. I am looking forward to hearing from you. 8
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@WiLdLiFeMystery4 years ago The elephant is very cute and dangerous. He is very confused and adorable. 1
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@aerozz88515 years ago You' re such a professional and calm. Good day!
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@than2176 years ago "OH SHIT he's got a stick. damn it. I could break all his bones, but I don't wanna get hit with that stick." 1
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@prasanthpanicker82245 years ago Remarkable sir, mr alan mcsmith.
i have seen in other videos, people trying to do similar things with elephants and get badly hurt.
these even with all the experience u have in the last 30 years, u need the utmost courage to do such acts. Great. Thank you. ...Expand
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@rhyspowell11783 years ago The elephant confused hes like tha never happened before they normally run balls of steel. 1
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@leonroux7 years ago It comes with a lifetime of experience. Reading wild animals in your daily job becomes second nature and you never stop learning.
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@winstonchurchill45616 years ago Big respect to both, this is winston from london big up yourselves.
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@13rdp7 years ago 30 years of300 years for the cameraman! 1
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@royabisaad48993 years ago When he turned 18 his parents moved out. 3
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@denyssarazin33184 years ago Mr. Mcsmith, you are one cool dude!
respect!
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@ortakbato79995 years ago Respect to this man and camera man as well: 1
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@MrBricksy3 years ago Because of alan mcsmith elephants travel in groups. 1
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@Oscardtt3 years ago Thanks to expert cameraman for not running and alan is experty! 1
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@allenhanks77193 years ago That elephant is lucky to still be breathing. 1
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@manuswimm6 years ago Really hats of you sir great sense of handling.
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@spiegel32697 years ago That took balls to have 100% confidence it would charge right at you and suddenly stop. Because if you guess wrong, you' re probably dead or definitely seriously injured.
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@MrNITYANANDSINGH4 years ago Even after watching this i m like run for your life in the same situation. 2
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@paolofoggetti43157 years ago Tu sei un grande!
you are a great!
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@fitrieammara27953 years ago the way elephant slide like a child haha 1
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@jayphillip7935 years ago What a man. Even an african lion will show it' s ass when it come across the same encounter.
really. Courage to the core. 13
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@lordscrubugus98975 years ago Elephant: *charges*
*pillar men theme starts playing*
alan: *menacing*
elephant: *doesn' t know what to do out of pure fear*. 2
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@gimmievids6 years ago Love the way the elephant kicks the foliage all pissed off at as if to say "fuck, grrr, just. fuck off"
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@unamed31265 years ago " maybe if i do it a second time, he' ll run" the elephant. 1