Outrage after tourist caught giving beer to elephant

Kenyan authorities launched an investigation after a Spanish tourist was filmed pouring beer down the trunk of an elephant at a private wildlife conservancy, sparking condemnation from conservationists and the public.

The tourist, using the Instagram handle Skydive_Kenya, posted a now-deleted video showing himself drinking a Tusker beer before pouring the remainder into the elephant’s trunk.

In another clip, he fed elephants carrots while saying, “We are on beer time.”

The BBC verified the footage, which appears to have been filmed at the Ol Jogi Conservancy in Laikipia County.

The elephant, believed to be Bupa, is a well-known rescued bull that has lived at the sanctuary since 1989.

“This should never have happened,” said a shocked staff member from Ol Jogi, who confirmed that the videos would be handed over to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

“We don’t even allow people to go near the elephants.”

KWS spokesperson Paul Udoto confirmed the agency is investigating.

Feeding alcohol to wild animals is considered not only irresponsible, but also potentially harmful to their health and behaviour.

Conservationists Condemn “Reckless” Act

Kenyan elephant biologist Dr Winnie Kiiru described the act as “unfortunate,” cautioning that it creates a dangerous precedent and puts both animals and humans at risk.

“Elephants are wild animals, and these kinds of videos suggest that it’s normal or safe to interact with them closely – it’s not,” Kiiru stated.

“These animals are not pets.”

The tourist, who describes himself as an “adrenaline junkie,” also posted footage from Ol Pejeta Conservancy, showing him hand-feeding a rhino.

Officials from that conservancy confirmed the breach of rules, stating he was not permitted to physically engage with the animals.

“He has broken our rules – rhinos are not pets,” said Ol Pejeta spokesperson Dylan Habil.

Tourism Sector Under Scrutiny

The elephant video surfaced just days after another tourist incident sparked widespread backlash, when visitors at the Maasai Mara blocked migrating wildebeest and jumped out of safari vehicles, violating park rules and disrupting one of the world’s most iconic wildlife events.

In response, Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife tightened regulations for tour operators and stepped up efforts to educate tourists on ethical wildlife behaviour.

The government has pledged to:

• Enforce existing rules more strictly.
• Improve signage in national parks.
• Ensure visitors stay in vehicles outside designated areas.

With tourism a vital part of Kenya’s economy and natural heritage, conservationists and authorities say such reckless behaviour threatens both wildlife and the sustainability of eco-tourism.

The Spanish tourist in question has yet to be publicly identified, but calls for deportation and potential legal consequences have gained traction on social media under the hashtag #RespectKenyaWildlife.