A troubling incident involving a Spanish man in Kenya has sent ripples of anger across social media platforms after he was filmed pouring beer down the trunk of an elephant. The act, captured in a series of videos, occurred at the Ol Jogi Conservancy, a sanctuary renowned for its commitment to wildlife conservation.
In the footage, the tourist is seen drinking from a can of Tusker, a popular local beer, before offering the remainder to the elephant, which he cheekily referred to as a 'tusked friend' in his Instagram posts. The posts were deleted after severe backlash from Kenyans, who expressed outrage over the disrespectful treatment of an endangered animal.
Staff from the conservancy expressed their shock at the incident and affirmed that such behavior is contrary to the conservancy's mission. We don’t even allow people to go near the elephants, said a staff member named Frank. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has also initiated an investigation into the matter.
Describing himself as an 'adrenaline junkie', the tourist has a history of posting content that some animal conservationists find alarming. In another video, he was seen feeding elephants and rhinos, disregarding safety protocols prohibiting direct contact with wildlife.
Dr. Winnie Kiiru, a Kenyan elephant conservation expert, condemned the tourist's actions as unfortunate and potentially dangerous. She emphasized that the vast majority of elephants in Kenya are wild and should not be approached or treated lightly as pets.
This incident follows another concerning event involving tourists who blocked migrating wildebeests at the Maasai Mara, prompting the Kenya tourism minister to enforce stricter regulations to safeguard wildlife and ensure responsible tourism etiquette.
The growing trend of reckless tourist behavior poses increasing risks to wildlife conservation efforts in Kenya, further necessitating the control and education of visitors within these protected areas.
