This is why we can’t have nice things.
Humans interfering with wildlife is a tale as old as time itself, and it rarely ends well.
Remember the poor dolphin that died because so many people took selfies with it?
PIC: Baby Dolphin Dies After Being Used For Selfies https://t.co/fJXaP1ABVG pic.twitter.com/gzptGTixgd
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) February 18, 2016
Well, a similar incident of human interference resulting in the death of a wild animal has occurred in Yellowstone National Park in the states.
ABC News are reporting that a father and son took a baby bison into their SUV at the park because they thought that the animal ‘looked cold’.
Many visitors to the park voiced their shock at the sight of the young bison calf in the back of the hikers car.
Sadly, the animal was unfortunately euthanised after it was rejected by its herd, who refused to accept the young animal back into the fold following the incident.
The park service was prompted to make this announcement following on from the unfortunate occurrence.
“In recent weeks, visitors to the park have been engaging in inappropriate, dangerous and illegal behavior with wildlife. Approaching wild animals can drastically affect their well-being and, in this case, their survival … The safety of these animals, as well as human safety, depends on everyone using good judgment.”
In a case of unfortunate timing, the bison calf was taken from the park on the same day that US President Barack Obama declared the bison to be the official mammal of the United States.
Rangers tried to reunite the calf with its mother but it was ostracized by its herd. Because the calf was found wandering among visitors’ cars, making it a danger to itself and others, the park service decided to euthanize it.
So the lesson is, however well-intentioned you may be, it’s best to leave the animals you encounter in the wild well alone.
