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Jaw-dropping prey-predator interaction between elk and gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park bewilders viewers

An elk startles gray wolf with its royal walk in this video from Yellowstone National Park.

PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

Bull moose fighting. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by jared lloyd)

Wildlife interactions are an intriguing prospect for many people due to the dynamics in play. Unlike human society, wildlife is not dominated by law; everyone has their roles, and they follow them to the T, no matter how violent the outcome may be. Recently, a video was published on BBC Discover Wildlife, showcasing two creatures in a fight for their life. The whole incident apparently unfolded in Yellowstone National Park. The creatures who served as subjects include the elk and the grey wolf. Despite it being a dazzling specimen of predator-prey interaction, there was a twist in the tale.

The Hidden Moose - stock photo (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images)

Predator and prey in their element

In the video, a powerful elk stag (Cervus canadensis) is charging towards a grey wolf (Canis lupus). The most captivating thing about the whole scenario is that the elk stag is supposedly the prey, and the grey wolf is the predator. Despite that, the elk, also known as moose in North America, was able to overpower the grey wolf. By the looks of it, the massive size of the 'prey' probably had a role to play. Experts believe that the creature in the footage was a bull, the male counterpart of the elk stag. They can apparently reach a height of 6 feet and weigh an enormous 0.7 tons. Their huge antlers also make them instantly visible in their surroundings. In comparison, the grey wolf was not commanding much authority.

Pair of elk grazing in Yellowstone National Park (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Footwarrior)

The bewildering interaction

The video begins with the stag making its way into the area in a nonchalant manner. As the camera pans to the grey wolf, its demeanor clearly indicates that it is a bit startled. Even though it is the one with the deadly features, here, it seems that its small size is making it somewhat insecure. The elk, on the other hand, is walking like royalty. The moment it laid its eyes on the grey wolf, the prey decided to flip the script and began charging behind it. The trick worked, and the grey wolf created distance between the pair, rather than attacking for its next hard-earned meal. Ultimately, it seems that confidence inspires competence, even in wildlife.

Minnesota Timber Wolf - stock photo (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Layne Kennedy)

Both are precious creatures in their own way

Both creatures in the video are special in their own way to the ecosystem, and both are facing a hard time. Elks were native to the British Isles but vanished some 3,000 years ago, possibly due to hunting and habitat loss. These creatures continue to dominate the landscape of Scandinavia and Russia, and are also reestablishing themselves in many sites of the Poland-Germany border.

Gray wolves are also not doing very well, according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). They have been federally registered as endangered. However, some populations have been deemed as stable. Experts think the destruction is supposedly due to factors like anti-predator campaigns, persecution by humans, and conflict with livestock. The healthy population persists in Alaska and Canada. Gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Experts claim that such reintroduction could aid in restoring natural ecosystem function by establishing them as apex predators.