This is the moment a bull elephant on musth - when its testosterone levels can reach 60 times greater than normal - decided¹ to get closely acquainted with a parked hatchback.

一只处在发情期的公象似乎决定近距离了解一下停泊在路边的一辆汽车，这组照片记录了这样一个时刻。公象处于发情期时的睾丸素水平可达到平常的60倍。

The two terrified occupants of this VW Polo found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time as a giant elephant stooped down to rub itself against the vehicle's roof and bonnet².

当这只大象俯下身来压蹭他们的车顶和引擎盖时，大众Polo车中的这两位乘客深刻地意识到他们在错误的时间出现在了错误的地点。

The incredible images were taken by Armand Grobler, 21, a field guide and lodge³ manager, in Pilanesburg National Park in South Africa.

21岁的阿曼德·格罗布勒是南非毕林斯堡国家公园的一名野外导游和旅馆经理，这组神奇的照片就是他拍下来的。

'Yet even though it was on musth, it displayed no signs of aggression⁴ or frustration⁵ and was in a more playful mood.'

“即使这只公象在发情期间，他也没有出现什么攻击性的行为或表现出挫折感，心情反而更像是在嬉戏玩耍。”

Elephants frequently use logs, small trees and rocks to relieve an itch⁶ or remove parasites⁷ - but with the car so close to hand, it was a chance too good to pass up.

大象一般会用木头、小树和石头来挠痒或除掉身上的寄生虫，不过当时它旁边就有一辆车，它觉得完全可以拿来用一用嘛。

Mr Grobler added: 'We were unsure of what to do in the situation, we feared for the lives of the driver and passenger but our efforts were very limited as to what we could do.

格罗布勒补充道：“当时我们不知道怎么办才好，我们很担心驾驶员和乘客的安全，但我们能做的也很有限。”

'The two passengers in the car were not harmed, only badly shaken up. They were both in shock but happy to be alive.

“车内的两位乘客没有受伤，不过被晃得挺惨的。虽然都受到了惊吓，不过还好没有性命之忧。”

'The car was not so lucky. From what we could see and hear, all the windows were smashed, the roof was badly dented⁸ and the entire top part of the car smashed.

“车子就没那么幸运了。就我们所看到的，听到的，所有的窗户都烂了，车顶被压得凹凸不平，整个车的上面都毁了。”

As for the elephant, after giving itself a good scratch, it continued on it's way itch free - oblivious⁹ to the destruction it had left behind

至于这只公象呢，它在好好挠了个痒以后就神清气爽地继续上路了，完全忘记自己搞的破坏了。