Shocking moment tourist risks killing a hippo by throwing a plastic bag into its mouth during safari
A safari park visitor has been ‘asked to publicly apologise’ after he risked killing a hippo by throwing a plastic bag into its mouth.
A shocking video clip showed the tourist holding a carrot to the hippo’s open mouth before throwing the bag in.
The incident, which is believed to have taken place at Taman safari park in Bogor, Indonesia, has sparked outrage within the local community and from people who have viewed the shocking footage online.
The safari park is said to have found the license plate of the vehicle in which the person responsible was sitting and the park has called on the man to apologize.
The footage shows a silver car stopping at a waterhole where a hippo is swimming.
The man is seen dangling a carrot from the mouth of a hippo at Taman Safari Park in Bogor, Indonesia, before throwing a plastic bag into it
The hippo, which took a dip in the nearby water, appears to hesitantly close its mouth before attempting to chew
The man then dangles a carrot stick near the large animal’s open mouth before dropping a plastic bag into it. The hippo appears to hesitantly close its mouth before attempting to chew.
The clip, which was shared online, has now been viewed more than two million times, with many people angry about the incident.
Someone said, ‘I hope that person and the hippo meet again someday. Hopefully in an environment that is more favorable to the hippo.’
“I hope they’re caught and arrested!! That might kill the hippo!!” said another viewer.
Another added: ‘Such people should not be allowed out of any safari park and they should not be allowed near animals.’ [sic]
‘Seems deliberate. Give the license plate to the lions,’ suggested a third, while a fourth said bluntly: ‘That’s disgusting.’
The same tourist is also said to have poked a deer with a carrot during the safari.
The hippo has been examined and is said to be in good health following the incident.