Outrage sparked by park visitor's video of tourists' reckless behavior near wild animal: 'Unbelievable'

Online viewers reacted with shock after footage surfaced showing tourists dangerously close to a bison in a national park. The clip, posted on Instagram by Tourons of National Parks (@touronsofnationalparks), shows visitors exiting their vehicles to photograph the massive animal.

The recording captures the tourists from a distance, while others watch anxiously. "I can't believe this guy," a voice in the background exclaimed. "Get in your car, bro."

The post quickly received hundreds of likes and numerous comments, many criticizing the tourists for ignoring safety guidelines. One comment read, "They act like its just a pet dog."

Bison were nearly wiped out centuries ago due to human activity. Today, the global population is estimated at around 400,000, yet the IUCN Red List still categorizes them as near threatened. These animals are the largest and heaviest land mammals in North America.

This is not the first instance of visitors getting too close to bison. According to the National Park Service, bison can move very quickly and may become dangerous if provoked. Officials advise staying inside vehicles and keeping a minimum distance of 25 yards when observing wildlife.

Experts note that human-wildlife encounters are increasing as environmental pressures grow. The World Wildlife Fund highlights that climate change and shrinking resources contribute to more frequent and potentially hazardous interactions between people and wild animals.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the video. While fines are possible for disturbing wildlife, some viewers believe stricter penalties are necessary. One Instagram user commented, "People who do this should be permanently banned from all federal and state parks. Period."

Author: Grace Ellison