Video obtained by the Telegraph captures the moment when paddling guides couldn't retreat quickly enough, allowing the charging animal to strike two boats and send occupants overboard within seconds.

The moment an elephant charged at tourists in Botswana Okavango Delta on Saturday.

American and British tourists escaped after a bull elephant overturned their canoes and briefly held a woman underwater. She escaped with help from her husband. Credit: CNP pic.twitter.com/RCqSuFeOX4

— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) September 29, 2025

The retreating elephant stepped on a struggling woman, holding her beneath the surface while searching with its trunk before returning to the herd unperturbed, footage shows, though she escaped unharmed despite what a former South African ranger called near-fatal timing, telling the Daily Mail: "She was incredibly lucky. Had the elephant held her down for a few more seconds, or gored her with its tusks, the outcome would likely have been fatal."

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The beluga whale Hvaldimir, who rose to fame in 2019 due to his peculiar harness resembling a camera mount, has been discovered dead in Norwegian waters, according to Marine Mind, a nonprofit dedicated to the whale's welfare.

The organization's founder, Sebastian Strand, confirmed spotting Hvaldimir's lifeless body near Risavika in southwestern Norway on Saturday.

"We're devastated by this loss," Strand commented. "Hvaldimir had become a beloved figure for countless Norwegians."

While the exact cause of death remains unknown, Strand noted evidence of markings on the whale's body, potentially from avian or aquatic animal activity. Plans are underway to transport the whale's remains to a facility for preservation and further examination to determine the cause of death.

Estimated at approximately 14 feet in length and weighing around 2,700 pounds, Hvaldimir first garnered attention in northern Norway four years ago, initially alarming local fishermen with his unexpected presence and unusual equipment.

The whale's name, a blend of the Norwegian "hval" (whale) and Vladimir, reflected the intrigue surrounding his origins. Belugas typically inhabit Arctic regions in groups, making Hvaldimir's solitary appearances in busier waters a source of concern for marine experts and conservationists.

The harness Hvaldimir wore, labeled as "equipment" from St Petersburg and featuring what appeared to be a camera attachment, fueled speculation about potential involvement in reconnaissance activities. However, Russian authorities have never claimed any connection to the whale.

Despite the espionage theories, Hvaldimir exhibited remarkably friendly behavior toward humans. "He displayed clear signs of domestication," Strand explained, suggesting a history of captivity for much of the whale's life.

Strand's team focused on educating the public about Hvaldimir, aiming to ensure his safety in an environment far from his natural habitat.

In the previous year, Hvaldimir was observed off Sweden's coast, a concerning southward migration that led him further from suitable food sources and into more hazardous, industrialized waters.

Strand had been advocating for increased safety measures for Hvaldimir, who had experienced a relatively peaceful year and appeared healthy as recently as Friday, based on the latest reports.

"The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear," Strand stated. "We're committed to uncovering the truth."

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In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Australian police are conducting an urgent search for a 12-year-old child who went missing while swimming in a creek in Palumpa, a remote community in the Northern Territory. The child, last seen on Tuesday evening, is feared to have fallen victim to a crocodile attack, highlighting the ongoing challenges of human-wildlife coexistence in the region.

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson of the Northern Territory Police provided an update on the situation, stating, "Local officers are on scene and our thoughts are with the family and the community. Officers are currently searching a large section of the creek via boat and we thank the community for their ongoing assistance."

The search operation has mobilized local law enforcement and community members in Palumpa, a tight-knit settlement of approximately 350 residents located a grueling seven-hour drive from Darwin, the territory's capital. 

This incident brings to the forefront the delicate balance between human activities and wildlife in the Northern Territory, home to an estimated population of over 100,000 saltwater crocodiles. These prehistoric predators, protected from mass culls and hunting since 1971, can grow to impressive lengths of up to 20 feet, making them the largest crocodile species in the world.

Despite their formidable presence, fatal crocodile attacks on humans are relatively uncommon in the region. However, recent events have sparked discussions about crocodile management strategies. Just last month, in a separate incident, a saltwater crocodile known for aggressive behavior towards humans and pets was captured and killed, with its meat distributed among local residents.

Responding to growing concerns about public safety, Northern Territory officials have recently revised their crocodile management plan. The new 10-year strategy increases the annual quota for crocodile removal from 300 to 1,200.

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Whereas knowledge of birds' breeding grounds in Europe is extensive – due to a wide network of ringing stations and research, knowledge of their wintering grounds in Africa is lacking.

In each feather, there is a 'hydrogen isotopic signature' that can indicate its growth location.

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The researchers have found that the Eurasian Blackcap, the most prevalent migrant in the Jerusalem Bird Observatory and one of the most common in Israel, arrives from Ethiopia.

The study, led by the Ph.D. student Tal Raz from The School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, was held in The Nili and David Jerusalem Bird Observatory and in cooperation with Environment Canada.

Millions of migratory birds fly over Israel on their way from Africa, where they spend the winter ("wintering"), to Europe and western Asia, and back. Of these, thousands of migratory songbirds stopover to rest in Jerusalem. Research conducted as part of a Master's degree, under the supervision of Dr. Takuya Iwamura, of the Ph.D. student Tal Raz of The School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, had aimed to identify the wintering grounds of songbirds that stopover in Jerusalem during their spring migration and answered for the first time the question: Where do five common Jerusalem migrants come from in Africa?

Whereas knowledge of birds' breeding grounds in Europe is extensive – due to a wide network of ringing stations and research, knowledge of their wintering grounds in Africa is limited. To reduce the knowledge gap for five species of songbirds that stop over during their spring migration at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO), the researchers used species distribution models and stable isotope analysis.

For each species of songbirds that stopover in Jerusalem: Eurasian Reed Warbler, Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, Olive-tree Warbler, and Barred Warbler, the research created species-specific distribution models by using ~1500 observation localities of the species and environmental variables that can impact the species' distributions (rainfall, temperature, etc.), resulting in a range that represents the species suitable habitat in Africa.

To reveal the Jerusalem migrants' wintering location within the African suitability ranges, a sample collection, led by Dr. Gidon Perlman and Dr. Yosef Kiat, was conducted at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory during spring migration. One feather grown (molted) in Africa during winter was collected from ~100 individuals of each species. The missing feather did not hinder the birds from continuing their migration. In each feather, there is a 'hydrogen isotope signature' that can indicate its growth location.

Hydrogen appears in nature in two ways: light and heavy. Each place on Earth has a certain ratio of these isotopes – the light and the heavy. The researchers have compared the isotopic ratio in the birds' feathers to the occurring ratio in Africa (an existing knowledge). With this, it is possible to identify the location where the feather was grown and improve the knowledge of the wintering grounds of each of the five species. For example, the researchers discovered that the Eurasian Blackcap (one of the most common migrants in Israel) is coming from Ethiopia and near areas. Additionally, they found that Eastern Olivaceous and Eurasian Reed Warblers arrive from two regions in Africa, one in eastern Africa and the other in central Africa. They also found that early-arriving Eurasian Reed Warblers winter farther from Israel than late-arriving individuals.

This study, which identifies the wintering grounds of the studied species, will enable us in the future to understand the threats imposed on the survival of the birds in Africa and to protect them more effectively. According to the researcher, Tal Raz of The School of Zoology and The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University: 'Migratory species face multiple threats to their survival as they depend on several locations during migration, as opposed to residents, and deterioration of only one of those locations can cause population decline. Currently, great efforts are being made in Europe to protect migratory birds, but we need to remember that these birds spend many months each year in migration, where they are threatened by poaching, and in Africa, where habitat destruction danger their survival. To conserve these species, we have to identify key locations along their entire migration cycle, so we can estimate their threats and act to protect them.'

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The Pacoche Marine Reserve in Ecuador documented 786 hundred dead bird species in the first week of June, as well as in areas that were regarded as environmental refuges occurring simultaneously with the presence of the H5N1 avian influenza virus that has already killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds in the region.

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According to the Ministry of the Environment, one of the most trustworthy theories is that the "El Niño" phenomenon is the reason for "the lack of food supply" for various species, including birds. The tropical Pacific's seas are home to El Niño, the king of climatic phenomena affecting the waters of the Tropical Pacific. Its arrival, scheduled for November or December in Ecuador, means extreme warming of the oceans.

According to Luis Cumba, undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, "There are no signs that the deaths are caused by a viral process, which affects all migratory birds." The environmental authorities have found 783 migratory bird carcasses as of the first week of June. According to Paolo Piedrahita, a research professor at the Higher Polytechnic School of the Coast, birds rely only on the fish that the seas produce for nourishment.

When the ocean, or in this case the coastline, is warmed by the incidence of El Niño, the supply of fish decreases. In addition, marine species, even with a slight variation in sea temperature, modify their behavior, affecting their predators, such as birds.

Amid the alert thousands of black cormorants are reportedly appearing on the Ecuador beaches. Most of them come from Peru, where researchers are on the alert for the presence of the coastal El Niño.
"These migrations correspond to oceanographic events related to the variation of the surface temperature of the sea," adds Piedrahita. These trips can last hours, days, or weeks, but the problem occurs when the birds cannot find food in the regions where they fly. For this reason, he warns that the massive appearance of birds is not 'normal' either, since the distribution ranges of birds are established according to where they can "reproduce and feed directly from the sea."

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Sea urchins in Israel's Gulf of Eilat have been dying off at an alarming rate, researchers announced Wednesday – a development that threatens the Red Sea's prized coral reef ecosystems.

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According to Tel Aviv University scientists, an unknown pathogen is killing off the black sea urchin, Diadema setosum. The massive die-off was first observed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in July and gradually spread. It was observed in the northern Gulf of Eilat in January, and researchers have since seen it spread south to the neighboring Red Sea, the scientists said.

The black sea urchin is critical to maintaining a healthy reef habitat. Without them, algae grow unchecked, choking off corals and compromising the delicate balance of the reef ecosystem.

A paper outlining the findings was published Wednesday in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

"It's a fast and violent death: within just two days a healthy sea urchin becomes a skeleton with massive tissue loss," said Omri Bronstein, a marine biologist at Tel Aviv University and lead author on a series of papers on the sea urchin deaths.

He added that they have ruled out localized poisoning or pollution, and instead suspect a "rapidly spreading epidemic" caused by an as-yet-unidentified pathogen.

Last month, researchers in the United States identified a single-celled parasite responsible for a similar mass die-off of sea urchins in the Caribbean that has laid waste to reef ecosystems.

The Israeli researchers believe a similar pathogen might also be responsible for killing sea urchins in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and have called for urgent action by the Nature and Park Authority to protect Israel's already endangered reef ecosystems.

"This new outbreak of disease is a grave concern," said Ian Hewson, a professor at Cornell University's Marine Mass Mortality Lab who was not involved in the Tel Aviv University study.

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He added that it "would be interesting to know if the same agent is at work" in the Mediterranean as has been identified killing sea urchins in the Caribbean. "If that is the case it will raise questions about how it is vectored between such geographically separated sites."

The Gulf of Eilat, a branch of the Red Sea shared by Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, is home to exquisite coral reefs that scientists believe might be more resilient to warming waters resulting from human-caused climate change.

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The Bar-Hai family was on its way to a beach in northern Israel when the children noticed an owl stuck in an Israel Railways security fence. Turning their beach trip into a wildlife rescue operation, they spared no effort in rescuing the bird.

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After failing to free the owl, whose head was stuck in the fence, on their own, the family alerted the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which sent two wildlife inspectors from the nearby Habonim Nature Reserve to help.

The inspectors carefully unstuck the owl and transferred it to the Wildlife Hospital at the Ramat Gan Safari.

"Our family was on its way to Habonim Beach when we made a wrong turn and ended up in an unknown area," the mother, Hadas, said. "That's when the kids suddenly noticed the owl. I tried to help her myself, but she was too scared. But the children didn't give up."

According to Hadas, her children, Matan Or and Achinoam, insisted the family postpone the beach trip and help rescue the bird, instead.

"We drove to the Habonim Nature Reserve and explained the situation to the wildlife inspectors who immediately went back with us to find the owl. The inspectors were very moved, as were we. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to save the bird."

Director of the Habonim Nature Reserve Matan Carmel commended the family.

"Thanks to the family's vigilance and determination, we were able to save the owl. The main food source of such owls are rodents, and they are, therefore, a natural pest control for agricultural areas.

"A family of owls hunts about 2,000-6,000 rodents each year, depending on the size of prey, and prevent the need to use pesticides that are harmful for humans and the environment," Carmel explained.

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Mazal tov! A clutch of 46 loggerhead sea turtles hatched Thursday at the Rosh Hanikra nature preserve on Israel's northern coast.

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The hatching was overseen by volunteers form the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and ranger Manor Guri, who made sure the baby turtles reached the sea safely.

Video: Manor Guri / INPA

Thursday's hatching marked the end of the mating season, which began in May. Pregnant female sea turtles leave the sea at night and lay groups of 70-140 eggs, which they bury. It takes about two months for the babies to hatch.

Researchers have learned that artificial light from seaside event venues, restaurants, and the promenade can confuse the hatchlings and cause them to crawl away from, rather than toward, the sea.

Loggerhead sea turtles, common on Israel's coast, are endangered. Hatchlings weigh 15-40 grams (half an ounce to 1.5 ounces), while adults weigh an average 90 kg. (198 pounds). Most loggerhead turtles live over 30 years, and some can live as long as 50.

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Zookeepers at the Ramat Gan Safari are excited to welcome a new set of quadruplets – meerkat pups born to proud mother meerkat Angie.

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Female meerkats Angie and Tamar recently joined the safari's meetkat population. Each group of meerkats has only one female that reproduces, so keepers decided to separate Angie and Tamar into two separate groups.

Video: Rachel Ben Ezra

The staff were happy when, one day, they note that Angie was not out and about. Her pregnant belly had flattened, and every time she left her burrow to each, she would take the food back with her, not remaining outside for more than a few seconds.

The zookeepers waited for Angie to bring out her pups, and tried to guess how many she had given birth to. At one point, Safar keeper Rachel Ben Ezra peeked inside the burrow and counted four, but was not sure they would all survive.

For three weeks, the pups stayed inside the burrow, with mother Angie making only occasional appearances. Slowly, Angie began to appear more comfortable and allowed herself to stay outside for longer, enjoying the sun. The two male meerkats in her group also appeared busier and more active.

This week, three weeks after they were born, the meerkat pups have made their public debut. All four stick close to Angie, as they still haven't been weaned. This stage of their development is expected to last a few more weeks. In the meantime, the pups are starting to familiarize themselves with their enclosure.

Meanwhile, Tamar and her male, Gili, are in an adjacent enclosure, and Safari staff hope that they will soon become parents to pups of their own.

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Images of sea turtles and other creatures covered in tar may be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to damage caused by an oil spill off Israel's Mediterranean coast two weeks ago.

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"The amount of tar is just incredible, and almost all of Israel's coastline is covered in tar," Dr. Ruth Yahel, a marine ecologist for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, said. "We haven't seen this extent of pollution in our region. It could take decades to rehabilitate and get rid of this pollution, and that also includes all of sandy and rocky habitats."

Wildlife immediately impacted by the spill include snails, seaweed, sea turtles, clams, and crabs, but as Yahel pointed out, "we'll only be able to begin to see the long-term damage in a few months."

She explained that "one of the concerns is over poisoning that will result in the entry of the pollution into the ecosystem and then the damage will be systemic, meaning the harm could be to fish, dolphins, sharks, and large turtles."

At the same time, creatures suffering from multiple injuries were brought to the Israeli Wildlife Hospital in Ramat Gan and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority hospitals.

According to the experts, it's still too soon to say whether it's safe to bathe in the Mediterranean Sea. However, as we approach spring and summer, and the temperatures rise, beachgoers will be more likely to inhale dangerous toxins from the tar, making such an outing more dangerous to our health.

Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a beach in the southern city of Ashdod.

Netanyahu said Gamliel would present the government with a plan and budget for cleaning up Israel's beaches. "I am very impressed by the work of the Environmental Protection Ministry, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and citizens," he said.

Gamliel said, "To overcome the battle, we need to raise tens of millions of shekels to go toward cleaning the beaches. We have the option of suing the insurance company of the ship responsible for the pollution, and we will do everything we can to locate it."

Thousands of volunteers took part in a cleanup operation of the Israeli shoreline, Saturday, following an oil spill that has been called the country's worst natural disaster in decades.

Israeli media reported that several volunteers were hospitalized after inhaling fumes. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority urged people to stay away from the beach at 16 of the most polluted sites.

Meanwhile, residents of Eilat joined with environmental activists in the southern resort city, Sunday, to protest a planned pipeline between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. At the demonstration, held while Netanyahu was visiting Eilat, protesters said the pipeline could result in an oil spill that forces the southern resort city to contend with the kind of damage Israel is now contending with on its Mediterranean shores.

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