[VIDEO] Man Stops Charging Elephant With His Bare Hands
A video that has been circulating on the Internet shows a tourist in Thailand stopping a charging elephant with his bare hands.
By Sadho Ram — 14 Jun 2014, 01:27 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
While visiting the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand, 27-year-old Tor Bowling came nose-to-trunk with a charging elephant and lived to tell the tale
What should have been a horrifying scene when an enormous elephant charged a man at a sanctuary in Thailand was worthy of just a few chuckles by Tor Bowling who chooses to look at the situation as a positive experience.
nydailynews.comThe bizarrely astonishing encounter was captured on video at the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary. Bowling is seen standing on a pathway completely still, looking at something hiding in the bush.
All of a sudden, an elephant charges and heads right at Bowling, who — amazingly — doesn't so much as flinch
Instead he steps towards the enormous animal and extends his hand in a halting motion. Amazingly the animal complies — letting out a huge shriek when he sees Bowling's hand and turns to run away.
It's safe to assume that most people in the same situation would either scream, run or curl up into a ball and pray for a quick death. Bowling clearly isn't most people.
He turns to the person filming the clip and gives a smile and a chuckle, like the entire thing was no big deal. Don't play chicken with this guy — you will lose.
yahoo.comBowling said he was an engineer but was bored by his job so he decided to quit and travel for a month with his friend Navee Kittisak
He visited the sanctuary so he could see a dinosaur footprint and on his way back he saw the elephant. The resident of Chonburi Thailand said when he first saw the elephant, which is not included in the video clip, he did not move and stared at the elephant for a long time. He tried to back away slowly but the elephant moved back with him.
nydailynews.comWhen the animal suddenly charged at him Bowling said he was scared and extended his hand as a reaction. It was not premeditated, he said. He did not think about what he would do if the elephant charged him, he said. “But I'm sure. it didn't want to hurt me,” he said based on its reaction.
yahoo.comPerhaps the most surprising part of the video is the seemingly nonchalant way Bowling reacted. After the animal fled, Bowling then turns around to his friend, who was filming the incident, and just chuckles. As the elephant disappears back into the jungle he lets out another loud sound, and Bowling turns to his friend and chuckles again.
nydailynews.comHe said his reaction was the product of an extremely positive attitude he has – especially now that he is traveling and trying to find a new direction for his life
I always think (everything that happens to me) is a special moment and I think I'm lucky to have had the chance to experience that,” he said. “I don't need (to think of things) as bad memories. So I smile to make it a good situation.”
nydailynews.comBowling said he thinks of this experience as a good memory and not a scary incident. When asked if he would want to see an elephant again Bowling said he wouldn’t mind seeing one but he wouldn’t go to a location just to see them. And Bowling said he wants to emphasize the elephant was not hurt and he did not try to provoke the animal.
yahoo.com