Close encounter with elephants

Just had the most thrilling encounter with elephants this morning, at 5.15, when heading to the field to ring birds. A bunch of elephants in the middle of the road, 50 metres from us, eating. Surrounded by pitch black night, just the lights of the car to let us see what they were up to. Road sided by trees and shrubs, no fast nor easy way to reverse. Shut down the engine and kept the lights on, pointing at a young adult looking at us. The air smelling to nitrogen coming from the ground where  tall Acacia trees over 10 metres were uprooted by these animals. Could only think of how on earth would I get the four of us out of there if the elephants decided they weren't cool with us. Heart pumping heavily though not too fast. Just kept looking at their reaction and that of the ranger with us. One hand at the gear-shifter, the other on the keys, ready to flee driving somehow backwards on a zig-zagging road, with fallen trees by the elephants. 10 minutes into this the elephant decided to keep eating from the trees. We can relax a bit. Other elephants making loud noises nearby. Every time he looks at us the blood pressure going up again. Other 15 minutes go by, they turn us their backs and decide to leave the place. We wait a couple of minutes more, I start the car and we decide to get a different spot to ring birds. One that doesn't go through a pack of elephants.

Then we got 6 or 7 birds in the nets. And that's an good morning.

This to add to another encounter earlier this week. An lonely male that after crossing the road in front of us, and to whom we gave the room and time to walk away (and he indeed was walking away) decided to turn back and run toward us. Ranger cocking is rifle but easier escape that time then, as I just needed to step on the gas and rush away from there.