Poured Beer into Elephant's Trunk, Filmed for Social Media
Conservancy Condemns "Unacceptable Behavior"
Authorities Consider Legal Action;
Online Outcry Calls for Tourist's Expulsion
A video posted on social networking services (SNS) showing a foreign tourist pouring beer into an elephant's trunk at a wildlife conservancy in Kenya has sparked international outrage.
The BBC and other British media outlets reported that a Spanish national recently committed this act at the Ol Jogi Conservancy in Laikipia County, central Kenya.
This man filmed himself pouring a locally brewed beer, 'Tusker,' into the elephant's trunk and uploaded the footage to his Instagram account. He added the caption, "A beer with a friend who has tusks."
The post immediately received hundreds of critical comments. Following the intense backlash, the video was deleted.
The elephant in question is a male known as 'Buffa,' who is familiar to visitors of the conservancy due to his large size and long tusks.
A representative of the conservancy stated, "Such behavior is absolutely unacceptable," emphasizing, "Visitors are, in principle, strictly prohibited from approaching elephants." He added, "We have secured the video and submitted it to the authorities, and given the shocking nature of the incident, a firm response is necessary."
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is currently investigating the incident and is reviewing whether the act constitutes a violation of wildlife protection laws. Authorities are reportedly considering possible legal action.
According to local media, the man in question has previously repeated the same behavior with two other elephants.
As these facts have come to light, criticism online has intensified. Some Kenyan netizens are demanding his expulsion, labeling him "an animal abuser, not a tourist."
This incident occurred just a week after another controversy in Kenya's Maasai Mara. At that time, some tourists exited their vehicles and blocked the riverbank, preventing the migration of wildebeests. As a result, many wildebeests were forced into crocodile-infested waters. Subsequently, the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife announced stricter visitor safety regulations, prohibiting people from leaving their vehicles outside designated areas.
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