At Ol Jogi Conservancy in central Kenya, staff were shocked when one of its tourist guests decided to act recklessly—by dumping beer into the mouth of a wild elephant. For a place that protects over 500 elephants and is committed to wildlife rehabilitation, the act of pouring beer into the mouth of a wild elephant is not just irresponsible fun, it is a direct danger to the animal and to the visitor.
Conservation First, Not Low-Cost Thrill
Frank, an Ol Jogi staff member, did not hold back, stating, “We don’t even let people get this close to elephants. This should never have happened.” The issue has been referred to local wildlife authorities.
The Circus of Social Media
The tourist, an “adrenaline junkie” on TikTok, exposed his stunt on social media as though it was just a regular highlight of thrill-seeking. In one video, he is seen feeding carrots to a rhino at the neighbouring conservancy. In a second, he is casually heard saying, “We’re drinking beer,” before handing a beer can to great big elephant. That elephant, known as Bupa, is not just any elephant—he is somewhat of a local folklore.
Who is Bupa?
Bupa’s story goes way back. A calf, he was rescued in 1989 following a mass elephant cull in Zimbabwe and he arrived at Ol Jogi as a 8 year old. As time went on and he continued to grow larger, he became known as a friendly giant and was regularly photographed by visitors. In hindsight, a gentle giant is still not a pet and there is concern from conservationists, including Dr. Kiiru, that video footage, like this, supports a negative idea of the elephant-human relationship publically.
Experts React
Dr. Winnie Kiiru, a Kenyan biologist and conservationist on elephants commented that the act was “deeply regrettable” considering about 95% of elephants in Kenya are wild. “It is dangerous for human beings and it is unfair to the animals. Putting this on social media makes people think that it is something you can just do and you can’t,” she said to the BBC.
The Kenya Wildlife Service has also confirmed it is examining the situation and spokesperson Paul Udoto reiterated to CNN it is a serious breach of the law.
Why This Matters
The video is not only a funny safari blunder; it illustrates the bigger issue of tourists treating wildlife as props in the pursuit of social media notoriety. These animals are survivors of poaching, climate stress, and habitat loss. They don’t need to be props in a failed beer commercial.
