As an Asheville photographer tried to photograph an elk in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the elk repeatedly butted heads with the man. After a video of the incident went viral on YouTube, the elk was euthanized Friday.
According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, park officials reported that the elk had become accustomed to people handing out food, which is why he approached the photographer - the photographer did nothing wrong. This marks the first instance that an elk has been euthanized in the park according to spokeswoman Dana Soehn.
However, animals in the park are becoming more and more food-conditioned, causing them to approach humans without fear. “This fall, there have been several elk that have become food-conditioned,” Soehn said. “We have reports of visitors who have been feeding them and the elk have been getting closer and closer...that one potato chip does make a big difference."
The video, which has reached over two million views, was a major factor in the decision to euthanize the animal. “This was not a one-time incident,” Soehn said. “(The video) was a trigger; the physical contact escalated our decision.”
The photographer, James York, escaped the incident unhurt, but once he found out the animal was euthanized, he felt awful. “I was really looking forward to watching him grow up,” he said. “I felt like I bonded with him. I am crushed that he’s gone. I was looking forward to his rack getting bigger and maturing into a bull.”
York further commented that he wished the whole thing had never happened, and he never would have gotten the photos, reports WBIR. "All the joy is gone. No one got hurt so it was a fun ride. I know the attention contributed to the animal being put down and I wish it had never happened," he said.
Image: YouTube screen shot
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