Tourists fixated on photo opportunity test their luck with wild elk in national park: 'Leave them alone'

A video captured photo-taking tourists testing their luck with a wild elk, sparking outrage about humans meddling with wildlife.

An Instagram clip posted by touronsofnationalparks (@touronsofnationalparks) shows an elk walking across a road as a group of tourists surround it. The video appears to have been taken in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, according to the caption.

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At the end of the clip, a young boy is seen walking toward the elk, stopping mere inches from the wild animal to take a photo with his phone. He doesn't make physical contact with the elk, walking away unharmed.

While nobody in the video got hurt, the clip is a reminder of the importance of maintaining safe distances from wildlife. Close encounters like these put both humans and animals at risk. When wildlife injures people, authorities often have no choice but to euthanize the animal, regardless of the circumstances.

Elk, in particular, are vital to their ecosystems. They help regulate vegetation, fertilize the soil with their droppings, and support predator populations such as wolves, bears, and mountain lions, contributing to a balanced environment.

When it comes to close encounters with wildlife, humans don't always walk away unscathed. One video captured an elk pummeling a man to the ground at Yellowstone National Park who appears to be left with little injury. Another clip showed an elk popping a car tire with its antlers.