Yellowstone Bison Calf Euthanized After Tourist Tries To 'Rescue' It

[marmar]

Yellowstone Bison Calf Euthanized After Tourist Tries To ‘Rescue’ It
A tourist in Yellowstone intervened last weekend when he saw a bison calf struggling to cross a river. His efforts not only interfered with the natural order of things wild, but ultimately resulted in the death of the animal.

Jake Nichols
May 23, 2023
6 min read




(Cowboy State Daily) A well-intentioned tourist in Yellowstone National Park intervened last weekend when he saw a bison calf struggling to cross a river.

His efforts not only interfered with the natural order of things wild, but ultimately resulted in the death of the calf.

Now authorities are looking for the man responsible.

....(snip)....

Petting or posing for up-close photos with wildlife is one thing. That type of reckless ignorance elicits online vitriol that borders on death threats. But standing by and doing nothing when an animal is suffering or about to die is beyond what most people can handle.

Baby Bison Rescue Gone Bad

On Saturday, onlookers were horrified when a tourist pulled a bison calf from the Lamar River after perceiving it was struggling to swim to the other side where its mother was waiting and calling for it.

Witnesses say the would-be do-gooder dragged the “red dog” (as baby bison are often called) to the bank and proceeded to pet the shivering calf, as did other onlookers.

The herd of bison awaited on the other side of the swollen river. Both the calf, estimated to be a few days old, and the mother were observed calling to one another. .................(more)

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/05/23/humans-do-it-again-baby-bison-euthanized-after-tourist-tries-to-rescue-it/

[samnsara]

1. that poor mom..full of milk and hormones will mourne that calf...

[2naSalit]

2. Humans have convinced themselves...

Over and over again, that they know best and that they should intervene when something unpleasant comes about.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Yeah. Stuff happens and some of it should be let happen. That's the zen of it. . . . nt

[Johnny2X2X]

4. I don't know on this one

I don't think I could just sit there and watch a baby animal drown to death in front of me. It's a shame that the man wasn't on the other side of the river because the mother would have likely taken the baby with the herd.

[Duppers]

5. That's a difficult call.

It seems the calf could've been raised by a zoo...if Park officials decided to help instead.

A zoo worse than death?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. I don't understand why officials didn't move the calf to the other side of the river?

Since that was where it was headed. The article says the calf may have been successful on its own even though it appeared to be struggling. Why not undo the interference by placing the calf where it was going?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. From other coverage:

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/24/1177857710/bison-calf-yellowstone-man

Park rangers repeatedly tried to reunite the calf with the herd, but the herd resisted.