In brief
A Spanish tourist's social media posts depicting him pouring beer down an elephant's trunk sparked significant outrage, leading to investigations by Kenyan wildlife authorities. The incident highlights growing concerns over tourist behavior in wildlife areas and calls for stricter regulations to protect animals.
Several investigations have been launched after a Spanish man in Kenya posted videos of himself pouring beer down an elephant's trunk, sparking anger on social media.
He was filmed in a wildlife reservation drinking from a can of Tusker, a popular local beer, before giving the rest to the elephant.
Just a tusker with a tusked friend, he captioned one clip on Instagram, which was later deleted after a backlash from Kenyans.
The BBC verified the authenticity of the footage, identifying it as filmed at the Ol Jogi Conservancy in Laikipia County.
A staff member from the conservancy expressed shock at the incident, stating that such behaviors would be reported to authorities, emphasizing that they do not allow direct interactions with elephants.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is investigating the situation, and the man, who operates under the handle Skydive_Kenya, has not revealed his identity.
Social media outrage ensued, with many demanding his deportation as similar incidents of irresponsible tourist behavior in parks continue to rise.
In recent footage, he was seen feeding elephants and later claiming, We are on beer time, before the disturbing act. This particular elephant, reportedly named Bupa, has been a notable attraction at the conservancy.
Dr. Winnie Kiiru, an elephant conservationist, condemned the act, categorizing it as reckless and hazardous to both the elephant's and the tourist's safety.
This controversy follows other incidents in which tourists endangered wildlife, including blocking migrating wildebeests at the Maasai Mara.
The tourism and wildlife ministry has since pledged to improve regulations and visitor education to mitigate such inappropriate interactions in the future.
