A Spanish tourist has sparked outrage in Kenya after posting videos of himself pouring beer down an elephant's trunk while visiting a wildlife reserve. The videos, which circulated on social media, showed the tourist drinking from a can of Tusker, a popular local beer, before offering the remainder to an elephant. His post captioned, Just a Tusker with a tusked friend, was met with a swift backlash from Kenyans, prompting him to delete it.
Investigations into the incident were quickly initiated by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the management of the Ol Jogi Conservancy, where the event reportedly took place. A staff member from the conservancy expressed dismay over the event, asserting that such behavior undermines conservation efforts and should not be tolerated. They also noted that interactions with elephants are stringently controlled to ensure safety.
Further footage shared by the tourist revealed him feeding two elephants with carrots, followed by the statement, We are on beer time. This behavior has drawn condemnation from local conservationists, such as Dr. Winnie Kiiru, who noted that such actions pose risks to both humans and wildlife.
The elephant, recognized by a distinctive damaged tusk, is believed to be Bupa, who was rescued from a cull in Zimbabwe. Ol Jogi is renowned for rehabilitating orphaned elephants and returning them to the wild.
This incident follows another reciente case where tourists blocked migrating wildebeests in Maasai Mara, leading to calls for stricter regulations within wildlife parks. The tourism ministry has since taken steps to enhance enforcement of park rules, underscoring the need for responsible wildlife tourism.
Kenya's wildlife conservation efforts are paramount, and actions perceived as disrespectful jeopardize not only animal welfare but also the integrity of the tourism industry.
Investigations into the incident were quickly initiated by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the management of the Ol Jogi Conservancy, where the event reportedly took place. A staff member from the conservancy expressed dismay over the event, asserting that such behavior undermines conservation efforts and should not be tolerated. They also noted that interactions with elephants are stringently controlled to ensure safety.
Further footage shared by the tourist revealed him feeding two elephants with carrots, followed by the statement, We are on beer time. This behavior has drawn condemnation from local conservationists, such as Dr. Winnie Kiiru, who noted that such actions pose risks to both humans and wildlife.
The elephant, recognized by a distinctive damaged tusk, is believed to be Bupa, who was rescued from a cull in Zimbabwe. Ol Jogi is renowned for rehabilitating orphaned elephants and returning them to the wild.
This incident follows another reciente case where tourists blocked migrating wildebeests in Maasai Mara, leading to calls for stricter regulations within wildlife parks. The tourism ministry has since taken steps to enhance enforcement of park rules, underscoring the need for responsible wildlife tourism.
Kenya's wildlife conservation efforts are paramount, and actions perceived as disrespectful jeopardize not only animal welfare but also the integrity of the tourism industry.
