Elephant steps on tourist in India
In the Indian state of Karnataka, a tourist was recently hospitalized with severe injuries after being trampled by a wild elephant. The incident, which occurred on a roadside, was reported by Liter.kz and Daily Mail.
According to the reports, the tourist approached the elephant to take a photo, a move that provoked the animal. The elephant, standing by the road, was startled by the flash from the tourist's phone and responded aggressively. The tourist was chased and stomped on multiple times, resulting in severe injuries.
The exact nature of the tourist's injuries was not specified in the report, and no further details about the tourist's condition were provided. The elephant, in the heat of the moment, also ripped off the tourist's pants and underwear.
The incident occurred in Karnataka, but the exact location within the state was not provided. The incident is reminiscent of a similar one that took place in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, where a man was attacked after trying to take a selfie with a wild elephant. The man was fined ₹25,000 and admitted to his violation.
While such selfie-related elephant attacks in Karnataka are relatively rare, they serve as a reminder of the risks associated with approaching wild elephants for photos. Authorities frequently warn tourists against such behavior, emphasizing that elephants, though usually gentle, may become aggressive if provoked or frightened.
The incident has sparked discussions about stricter penalties for wildlife provocation, as there is a growing concern about the reckless behavior of some tourists. However, there is no comprehensive official data quantifying how common such selfie-related elephant attacks are in Karnataka or India, indicating they remain exceptional events rather than widespread phenomena.
In light of these incidents, it is crucial for tourists to respect wildlife and the rules put in place to protect them. Approaching wild animals for selfies can have severe consequences, as evidenced by this tragic incident in Karnataka.
[1] Liter.kz, "Tourist trampled by elephant in Karnataka after trying to take selfie," 2025. [2] Daily Mail, "Tourist hospitalized after being trampled by elephant in Karnataka," 2025. [3] Bandipur Tiger Reserve, "Fine imposed on tourist for violating wildlife rules," 2023. [4] National Geographic, "Selfie-related wildlife deaths on the rise," 2020.
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