A Spanish tourist has sparked outrage after posting videos of himself pouring beer down an elephant's trunk at the Ol Jogi Conservancy in Kenya.
The man filmed himself ahead of the act, drinking from a popular local beer, Tusker. One video cheekily captioned, Just a tusker with a tusked friend, before the backlash led to the removal of the posts from Instagram.
Experts confirming the location assert that the video is genuine, showcasing a well-known bull elephant. Reactions from the community have been swift, with calls for accountability from both social media users and conservation authorities.
Staff members from the conservancy expressed shock, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable and compromises the conservation ethos. The Kenya Wildlife Service is currently investigating the incident, with officials including spokesperson Paul Udoto deemed the action troubling.
In additional footage, the tourist seems to trivialize the encounter by offering carrots to other elephants, prompting warnings from biologists about the dangers of normalizing close interactions with wild animals. Conservationists argued that such portrayals could mislead tourists about the reality of wildlife interactions.
This incident follows a recent controversy where tourists endangered wildlife during the Maasai Mara's wildlife migration, prompting renewed calls for stricter regulations in tourism. The ministry pledges to enhance rules regarding visitor behavior in parks amid growing concerns about wildlife safety.
As Kenya's rich biodiversity faces challenges, the responsibility of both tourists and operators to act cautiously remains vital for conservation efforts.
