A video showing a Spanish man pouring beer into the trunk of a male elephant has sparked outrage in Kenya, highlighting ongoing concerns about tourists disturbing wildlife.
Investigations identified the elephant as Bupa, a 44-year-old male living in the Ol Jogi conservation area in central Kenya. In the Instagram clip, the man is seen drinking a can of the local beer Tusker before offering it to the elephant. The now-deleted video was captioned, “Just a tusker with a tusked friend.”
Ol Jogi, a private reserve that promotes itself as a sanctuary for indigenous and endangered species, confirmed the incident. Another deleted video allegedly showed the same tourist feeding carrots to an endangered rhino.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has opened an investigation, according to its spokesperson, Paul Udoto.
The footage drew hundreds of angry comments from Kenyans, frustrated by repeated cases of tourists interfering with wildlife. Just last week, visitors were filmed blocking migrating wildebeest in the Maasai Mara Reserve, forcing some into crocodile-infested waters.
In response, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced new measures to strengthen animal protection in the Maasai Mara. The four-point plan includes stricter enforcement of park rules, more rangers at sensitive points, and greater accountability for tour operators.
“Kenya’s tourism future depends on safeguarding both visitors and wildlife. We must act decisively to protect the Maasai Mara’s integrity, ensure visitor safety, and reaffirm our commitment to conservation,” Miano said.