Wild Elephant Attacks Tourist Trying to Snap Photo in Karnataka; Shocking Video Goes Viral
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What began as a peaceful afternoon in Karnataka’s Bandipur Tiger Reserve quickly turned into a scene straight out of a wildlife documentary minus the happy ending for one tourist.
The Flash That Triggered Fury
A now-viral video, filmed by Daniel Osorio, captures the moment a wild elephant, calmly munching on carrots from a truck, suddenly charged at a man. According to Osorio, cars had patiently stopped on the road connecting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, giving the animal space to eat in peace. But one tourist stepped out, camera in hand, flashing it directly in the elephant’s face to get a close-up shot.
That one move was all it took. Irritated, the elephant lunged forward, charging down the road as the man tried to flee. In seconds, the giant caught up and stomped on him, sending shockwaves through onlookers and later, the internet.
“Signs along this road clearly state that visitors must remain inside their vehicles. This incident is a strong reminder to follow the rules of wildlife reserves and to let trained authorities — not people on foot — handle situations like this,” Osorio noted in his post.
Some even debated the right way to respond to such encounters. “When you run away from an animal this is what happens to you. You must stand up, confront it, and scream,” said one commenter.
The Flash That Triggered Fury
A now-viral video, filmed by Daniel Osorio, captures the moment a wild elephant, calmly munching on carrots from a truck, suddenly charged at a man. According to Osorio, cars had patiently stopped on the road connecting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, giving the animal space to eat in peace. But one tourist stepped out, camera in hand, flashing it directly in the elephant’s face to get a close-up shot. That one move was all it took. Irritated, the elephant lunged forward, charging down the road as the man tried to flee. In seconds, the giant caught up and stomped on him, sending shockwaves through onlookers and later, the internet.
“Signs along this road clearly state that visitors must remain inside their vehicles. This incident is a strong reminder to follow the rules of wildlife reserves and to let trained authorities — not people on foot — handle situations like this,” Osorio noted in his post.
Viral Video Sparks Outrage
The clip has spread rapidly across social media, drawing sharp criticism. One viewer wrote, “Deserved, all the elephant did was to protect itself.” Another joked, “Stop behaving like animals. Just google the top speed of an elephant, then compare it with your own & be thankful that they usually just mock-charge!”Some even debated the right way to respond to such encounters. “When you run away from an animal this is what happens to you. You must stand up, confront it, and scream,” said one commenter.
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