A tourist in India was chased and trampled by a wild elephant after taking a photo of the animal using flash, enraging the creature and sparking the attack.
The tourist, identified as R. Basavaraju, reportedly ventured into an off-limits area near a temple in Karnataka, India, where he saw an elephant eating carrots by the side of a road.
The traveler attempted to take a selfie with the elephant, but his phone’s flash function was on, which sparked an aggressive reaction from the animal.
Raising its trunk, the elephant charged toward the man, who fell on top of the road and was subsequently stomped by the massive herbivore. In the commotion, the elephant ended up tearing off his pants and underwear before making its way back toward the greenery.
Although Basavaraju was gravely injured, he managed to survive the ordeal — but his pocketbook wasn’t so lucky.
Tourist fined after provoking elephant attack with flash photo
Authorities fined the tourist 25,000 rupees (around $285) on charges of provoking wildlife and trespassing. He was also ordered to create a video apologizing for the incident, in which he admitted that the elephant’s attack was sparked by his own ignorance of local laws.
A bystander at the scene of the attack, named Daniel Osorio, gave a comment to the Daily Mail, saying, “This incident is a strong reminder to follow the rules of the wildlife reserves and to let trained authorities, not people on foot, handle situations like this.”
India is home to the world’s largest elephant population, with around 30,000 of the gentle giants making their home in the country. While elephants are known for their generally relaxed demeanor, they can become aggressive in specific situations.
These instances include mothers protecting their calves, bulls going through musth, or when they are injured or sick. In this case, the tourist’s invasion into the elephant’s space, along with the bright light from his phone’s flash, likely startled the animal and prompted it to drive off the threat.
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