Video footage of an inebriated tourist lunging out of his car and charging a wild elephant at South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park caused uproar on Monday.
The footage, posted on wildlife site Latest Sightings (www.latestsightings.com), showed the unidentified man charging towards the startled animal.
With friends cheering and encouraging him, the man runs towards the elephant, falls to the ground but gets up again and bolts in the direction of the animal.
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In May 2013, a video surfaced showing a drunken tourist charging at an elephant in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. The footage, posted on the wildlife site Latest Sightings, depicted the man running toward the startled animal while his friends cheered him on.
The elephant initially swung its trunk at the man but eventually retreated. The incident sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for accountability.
The Singita Game Reserve, where the incident occurred, responded by firing the off-duty field guide involved. The reserve emphasized that the behavior displayed in the video contradicted its guiding ethos and values toward conservation and wildlife preservation.
The video highlighted the dangers of interacting with wild animals and underscored the importance of adhering to safety guidelines in national parks.
While the tourist’s actions were reckless, they also served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife and the need for respect and caution when observing animals in their natural habitats.
