For many people, the idea of a sparrow defeating an elephant seems impossible due to the vast difference in their body sizes. A sparrow measures only about 10 centimeters in length, whereas an elephant typically reaches up to 4 meters long.
In 2017, a rare incident of “sparrow madness attacking elephants” occurred in Kenya, Africa. Photographer Antero Topp managed to capture images of terrified elephants fleeing from a massive swarm of thousands of crazed birds at the Satao Camp waterhole in East Tsavo National Park, Kenya, East Africa.
More than 200,000 red-billed queleas formed a massive flock and attacked three elephants. They did not just peck at the elephants’ ears and trunks but also aggressively targeted their eyes. While each peck seemed insignificant, the relentless and dense assault from 200,000 birds overwhelmed the elephants, forcing them to flee as they had no effective way to counter the attack.
According to The Telegraph, Antero Topp described the scene as thousands of red-billed queleas descending upon large trees near the waterhole, forming a cloud-like mass.
“Suddenly, I heard cracking sounds… it turned out that a tree branch had snapped under the sheer weight of the birds, even though each one weighed only around 10 grams. You wouldn’t believe the deafening noise when all the birds took flight at once,” Topp recounted.
“I was astonished to see elephants retreating about 50 meters, and some even ran away. Perhaps they were intimidated by the enormous size of the flock and the overwhelming noise in the air,” Topp told The Telegraph.
The Red-billed Quelea – The Most Numerous Bird on Earth
The birds attacking the elephants were identified as red-billed queleas (Quelea quelea), the most populous bird species on our planet. They are primarily found across Africa, with an estimated population exceeding 10 billion.
These birds are quite small, measuring only 10-13 cm in length and weighing less than 20 grams—smaller than the common sparrows found in Vietnam.
Male red-billed queleas are particularly striking during the breeding season, as they molt into vibrant plumage to attract females. Despite their small size, these birds are highly aggressive and rely on their flocking behavior to enhance their survival and combat capabilities.
Their vast numbers stem from their incredible reproductive capacity. Typically, they breed twice a year, with each cycle producing around five eggs. Remarkably, the eggs hatch in just about ten days, allowing the chicks to emerge rapidly.
Locals in Africa often refer to these birds as “feathered locusts” due to their highly destructive feeding habits. Red-billed queleas consume both insects and plant matter, often causing extensive damage to crops and forests when they swarm, much like locust plagues.
Why Do Red-billed Queleas Attack Elephants?
The African savanna elephant is the largest living land animal and is considered one of the few creatures with no natural predators. Even hyenas and lions rarely dare to challenge them. So why do these elephants find themselves under attack by red-billed queleas? The reasons could be as follows:
1. African Elephants Encroach on Their Territory
The queleas do not attack elephants to hunt them as prey.
As with all wild animals, red-billed queleas have their own territories, which primarily consist of vast grasslands and wooded areas, as they rely on insects and seeds for sustenance. Given their immense population, their territorial range is also significantly large.
Elephants, in their search for food, often destroy grasslands and trees, inadvertently damaging the queleas’ habitat. This encroachment may provoke aggressive defensive behavior from the birds.
These birds primarily feed on the seeds of annual grasses but also devastate cereal crops on a large scale, earning them the nickname “Africa’s feathered locusts.”
2. Elephants Deprive Them of Water
In the wild, conflicts between species often arise due to competition for survival resources, and water is one of the most critical resources. Africa’s arid climate, especially during the dry season, makes water sources extremely scarce, leading to fierce competition among animals, including red-billed queleas and African elephants.
Elephants, which live in herds, require large amounts of water—each one drinking up to 90 liters per day. Their enormous consumption not only depletes water sources but also prevents the smaller birds from accessing drinking water. To survive, the queleas resort to mobbing the elephants, forcing them to retreat so they can secure water for themselves.
In reality, it’s not just elephants—hyenas and even lions have been attacked by queleas for similar reasons.
