Arnold Schwarzenegger says a brief run-in with a charging elephant in South Africa caused some in his party "to change our pants," and a video of the encounter has gone viral on YouTube with an easy million views.
The former California governor was on safari when his group encountered the huge elephant, reported
CNN. The curious pachyderm walked around their vehicle, then left and then started coming back quickly when the driver decided to drive away.
Once the vehicle was on its way, the elephant gave chase in a gallop, leaving one of the passengers to exclaim, "Oh s***," before the video ended. Schwarzenegger confirmed the scary moment in the
YouTube video's caption.
"I couldn't have written this safari encounter better if it was a movie," Schwarzenegger said on YouTube. "I'm absolutely in awe of these beautiful, strong animals, even though some of us had to change our pants after this."
The
Huffington Post said the video got another 2.2 million views on Facebook.
Schwarzenegger was in South Africa to promote the health and fitness trade expo Arnold Classic Africa, which happened last weekend, the Post said.
Schwarzenegger also gave an anti-poaching pitch for elephants.
"We need to stop killing them – take a photo, not a shot," Schwarzenegger said. "Would you rather be able to experience these creatures or a hunk of ivory? I thought so."
The Obama administration on Thursday finalized a near-total ban on products with African elephant ivory, said the
Washington Post. Ivory can command up to $1,500 per pound due to demand in Asia, where the tusks are ornately carved into art.
Ivory dealers and collectors complained that Obama's new directive will make century-old artifacts estimated at $11.9 billion "worthless" because it would be too hard to prove their age.
Many had fun on social media with the Terminator's elephant encounter:
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