Video of tourist encroaching on grazing bison for photo opportunity sparks frustration online: 'Do people know their camera has a zoom feature?'
A tourist caused outrage online as they risked their safety and that of the wildlife by getting too close.
While many of us love sharing glimpses of our lives online, one tourist took extreme risks to get that perfect Insta shot.
A video posted by the group Tourons of Yellowstone (@touronsofyellowstone) shows a tourist filming dangerously close to a bison as it grazes in an area in Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. The video was captioned with several hashtags, including #Keep25YardsFromBison and #KnowingTheParkRulesIsYourResponsibility.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by TouronsOfYellowstone (@touronsofyellowstone)
Tourons, a tongue-in-cheek term combining tourists and morons, is used to describe people who risk not only their life but the safety of the wildlife by getting too close.
Park rules are in place to ensure that tourists can enjoy the beauty of the natural world without risk to themselves or the wildlife they encounter. Many people choose to visit national parks to experience nature, and observing interactions like these can interrupt or ruin that experience.
Visiting national parks is a great way to see animals in their natural environment, and the money we spend there goes a long way toward preserving our natural resources and protecting wildlife.
Watch now: Ford executive reveals how the brand will meet customers 'where they are' with EV technology
Although a single photo or selfie might not appear significant, according to the National Park Service, the national parks receive over 330 million visitors every year, providing lots of opportunities for wildlife to interact with people. Regularly disturbing wildlife can impact their natural behaviors and eating patterns, affecting animal health and even their chance of successfully reproducing.
Human-wildlife interactions are becoming increasingly common in Yellowstone and globally. Witnessing these events unfold can be stressful for wildlife, bystanders, and the park rangers who are often forced to step in when situations get out of hand.
These incidents can also cost wildlife their lives as animals that injure humans may be euthanized, even if the animal was just trying to defend itself or its young.
Fortunately, we do have the technology — such as cameras, smartphones, and binoculars — that can help us view animals safely from a distance.
One person remarked, "Do people know their camera has a zoom feature?"
While another was alarmed by just how close to the bison this person was, commenting, "No, no, no!!! Never, ever get close to the animals in Yellowstone!"
Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Video of tourist encroaching on grazing bison for photo opportunity sparks frustration online: 'Do people know their camera has a zoom feature?' first appeared on The Cool Down.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings