A calf in Yellowstone National Park in the US had to be euthanized after being rejected by its herd after a tourist allegedly touched it while trying to help it.
“Human interference can result in wild animals repelling their offspring. In this case, park rangers made several attempts to reunite the calf with the herd. “Those efforts have failed,” Yellowstone National Park said in a statement Tuesday, Global News reported.
So this week, the American park had to end the life of the young calf after it was abandoned by its gang, “resulting in a dangerous situation where it approached cars and people in the street,” he continued.
The reason for the abandonment is said to have come after a tourist tried to push the calf, which had just crossed the river, back onto the road by pushing it, despite the park’s warning not to go near the wildlife.
(Press Release) Yellowstone Police Officers are investigating the incident in which a man intentionally disturbed a bison calf; Incident leads to the death of a calf. Visitors: Respect wildlife by giving them space. More: https://t.co/A8mJc9WeaR
Photo courtesy of Hellen Jack pic.twitter.com/qpiFmYFaKP
—Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) May 23, 2023
“Handling wildlife can have a significant impact on their well-being and, in this case, their survival. Park regulations require visitors to keep a minimum distance of 23 meters from all wildlife (including bison, elk and deer) and at least 91 meters from bears and wolves,” the park continued.
The park nevertheless defended itself against sending the calf to a sanctuary, arguing that government laws prohibit transporting bison outside of Yellowstone.
“We didn’t make this decision because we’re lazy, indifferent, or inexperienced in bison biology. We made this choice because national parks preserve natural processes […] Every day animals die in the park so others can live,” the park said, adding that up to 25% of spring-born calves die naturally.
For his part, the man in question could be charged with the crime and faces six months in prison and a $5,000 fine, CNN reported.