A tourist sparked outrage after a video was shared of them appearing to throw a plastic bag into the mouth of a hippo while visiting a wildlife sanctuary.
The clip shows a silver automobile pull up next to a watering hole where a hippo is having fun with a dip.
A tourist is then seen hanging out the automobile window dangling a carrot before tossing it within the animal’s mouth.
At the identical time, what looks like a transparent plastic bag is thrown into the hippo’s mouth because it appears to hesitantly close its mouth before attempting to chew.
The incident took place on the Taman Safari park in Bogor, Indonesia, last month, with the wildlife sanctuary condemning the incident.
“This incident can’t be tolerated,” it said in a press release.
“Officers who were at the placement immediately removed the plastic object from the hippo’s mouth, in accordance with the principles and procedures at Taman Safari Indonesia.”
The park has reportedly situated the license plate of the tourist’s vehicle and have demanded they make a public apology.
The clip has since gone viral with greater than 2 million views sparking major outrage including from those in the local people.
“He ought to be punished by throwing trash into his mouth,” one furious person wrote on Instagram.
“I hope that person and the hippo meet again some day. Hopefully in an environment more favourable to the hippo,” one other wrote, while a 3rd hopes the tourist is caught arrested.”
“That might kill the hippo!!” they wrote.
One person demanded disrespectful tourists “ought to be banned from every safari park and never allowed near any animals”.
“Seems deliberate. Give the license plate to the lions,” one furious person added, while one other described the act as “sickening.”
The tourist allegedly also poked a deer with a carrot while on the safari tour.
The hippo was examined and is reportedly in healthy condition following the incident.
“The Life and Science team along with the Animal Care team checked the condition of the hippo and that the hippo was in good condition,” the statement from the park read.
“Taman Safari is committed to protecting and caring for and developing wild animals in conservation institutions [and] is not going to tolerate events or things that will not be in accordance to the regulations.”
