‘Those things can destroy you’
Sometimes a video shows someone doing something so ill-considered that viewers wonder how that person escaped unscathed; just like in the footage where a tourist effectively fights with a sea lion instead of enjoying a peaceful holiday.
pulley shared by National Park Turons (@touronsofnationalparks) Instagram account sparked harsh criticism of the decision-making of the matter.
The video shows a man spotting a sea lion at the boat dock of a marina. Instead of leaving the animal alone, he approaches it to scare it, provoked by sounds off camera. The tourist appears to be jokingly instigating a fight as he lunges at the creature, raises his fist, and then tries to tackle the animal.
Luckily for her sake, the sea lion stands up to her before she can do any serious damage. However, sea lion attacks are increasing in some areas. According to CNNand people reported bites and unusual aggression attributed to toxic algae affecting marine creatures in the news.
Unfortunately, the encounter in the video is not the first time tourists have provoked wild animals. Videos of them antagonizing deer, taunting bison, and being attacked by wildebeest went viral, with many commenters criticizing the subjects for their reckless, dangerous, and cruel behavior.
Wild animals do not live their lives to entertain humans, and the audacity to harass a sea lion for no reason is dangerous. The tourist in the video is not only causing stress to the animal, he is also endangering both himself and the sea lion. Wild animals can be euthanized if they attack humans, whether provoked or not.
Instagram users flooded with comments with extreme displeasure at the man’s actions.
“These things can destroy you!” one person said this.
Another added that “alcohol was definitely involved.”
“They are killing sharks,” one commenter warned. “Stop interfering with nature, as long as nature does not interfere with you.”
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