A lone moose died this week in Vermont, succumbing to exhaustion and drowning in Lake Champlain after crowds of people swarmed to take his photo.
Fish and Wildlife Officer Robert Currier said the moose swam across the lake from New York to South Hero, Vermont. Already weak from the long swim, the animal climbed onto land but was scared due to the groups of people gathering to take photos, heading back into the water.
Currier arrived on the scene moments before the animal drowned.
“It was really rough out there, probably 4 to 5-foot swells and high wind,” said Currier. “It was struggling pretty good at that point. We were waiting for a boat to respond to try to assist it, but before the boat arrived, it had drowned.”
Wildlife officials issued a timely warning, advising people who observe wildlife of any kind to maintain a respectful distance, both for their own safety and that of the animal.
“It is amazing to see these creatures, but they are wild animals and should be left alone/viewed from a distance,” said Sheriff Ray Allen. “If you see a large animal like this, please report to Vermont Fish and Game immediately to avoid this type of situation.”
Endangering wild animals by trying to get a great shot or attempting the ultimate “selfie” is a dangerous and cruel act. Across the globe, people and animals are injured or killed when individuals recklessly attempt to pose with wild animals. Earlier this year, a man in India was mauled to death by a bear while attempting to take a selfie — the bear also suffered injuries during the incident. Last year, a baby dolphin died after being pulled from the ocean for repeated selfies in Argentina.
Although these incidents happened outside the US, our nation is by no means innocent of such cruelty. World Animal Protection (WAP) and Toronto-based organization Grassriots studied the prevalence of wildlife selfies on social media last year and shockingly found that 41% of these inappropriate images were posted from the United States.
“These are people who love animals, they want to have an authentic experience with an animal, and this just isn’t it,” said WAP spokesperson Cassandra Koenen. “Getting too intimate with animals for the purpose of taking photographs is an attitude we need to change.”
What’s New…
There NOW needs to be large RED signs, where wildlife animals are located (in NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS):
“ABSOLUTELY NO SELFIES NEAR WILDLIFE. NO EXCEPTIONS!”
Sick, inhumane & intolerable behavior!! Find these disturbed people wanting the selfie & caused drowning of this innocent moose.
Drown them! !! After they are charged for animal endangerment.
This is just a blatant act of uncompassionate selfish ignorant humans who don’t care about anything but themselves.. It seems to be a common trend now to harm animals or not care about their welfare obviously they were not raised right..my son would never do anything like this for any reason he would be rescuing it instead l..what a shame for a poor helpless animal just trying to live a life
IGNORANCE AND THE NEED FOR SELFIES AKA ‘SELF AGGRANDIZEMENT’ IS NEEDING A FINE FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL CAUSE AN ANIMAL’S DEATH. Those who cause life threatening instances , whether in forests, beaches or other environments should be held accountable. Notices of fines should be made prominent and undertaken by the courts. Sometimes laws work when brains don’t!
Terrible and very sad.
So these people taking pictures of the animal now have a picture of an animal they caused to drown. They must feel really proud of themselves every time they look at the picture of the animal.
People can be such s— heads !
Just too damn many uncouth people.
Humans are retarded. Put the phone away for the love of animals, stalking a moose makes alot of sense!?
I hope one day an alien does this to a human that has abused animals!!!!
So do I
What a sad ending for this beautiful moose trying to swim away from stupid people taking pictures. This should never have happened and it is sad that help arrived too late to save the moose.
This is just inexcusable, people and their stupid cell phone with cameras and always gotta get a selfie of something. I have never in my life taken a selfie and ya know what, my life goes on every day just fine; day in and day out, my life goes on without a cell phone and running around taking selfies and possible causing harm to the subject I am trying to get such as causing the death of this poor animals.
I hope everyone involved is charged.
Animals are to be respected and their space respected!!
Couldn’t agree with you more, GarriAnne. The cell phones, the selfies & the mob mentality of relentlessly pursuing animals to their deaths is not only inexcusable…it is truly sinister.
PUNISHMENT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. STRONG ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS WORLD WIDE IS A MUST!!!!!
People should allow animals their space! Hope this never occurs again!!
People often need to be educated about things which to others may appear obvious.
Are there really people out there that want to get that close to a Moose to get a good picture? If that animal was not so tired it would have charged those people and hopefully doing some bodily harm. If they are that stupid, it will be well deserved harm. I am stunned at the stupidity.
Ignorant selfish people.
selfies should be banned. it is becoming incurable disease. instead of helping we keep making videos and taking selfies. It has become very dangerous.
These people should all be charged.
yes..the jerks must be heavily fined & jailed! We all must demand strong animal protection laws world wide.
Stop it with the stupid selfies!!! Now look what happened! Wildlife should be left alone. Not for people’s amusement! I just don’t understand why people are so dumb and disrespectful!
Wildlife is wildlife it’s to be admired and left alone. I believe there was now reason that they had to hound this animal to cause its death someone needs to educate these people before something worse happens.
Reading the comments here leads me to wonder, how many of you who are outraged over the death of this moose (rightfully so), actually consume animal flesh on the regular? I can’t help but put consuming animal flesh out of pure desire and selfishness (with so many alternatives available to most, it s not a necessity) in the same category as this senseless act.
I hope this words provoke thought rather than fury. I’m not trying to shame anyone, simply drawing a parallel.
Well said, Erina! There is such a huge cost to eating the amount of meat we do worldwide. “Meatless Mondays” was a good start, but we could all do better. I’m not a vegetarian or vegan by any stretch of the imagination, but am educating myself about the cruelty & injustices of mass farmed animal products (never mind the health effects) and am trying to eat less and less meat ever wk./mo./yr..
Well said, Erina! There is such a huge cost to eating the amount of meat we do worldwide. “Meatless Mondays” was a good start, but we could all do better. I’m not a vegetarian or vegan by any stretch of the imagination, but am educating myself about the cruelty & injustices of mass farmed animal products (never mind the health effects) and am trying to eat less and less meat ever wk./mo./yr..
I hope the idiots are satisfied with what they have caused. Poor moose.
The people that drove this beautiful creature to its death deserve to have nightmares every night of their remaining lives, sick, selfish mofos.
What is wrong with people like this. It makes me sick
Why harm an innocent soul? Animals have feelings too. Evil people need to lay for the harm the cause on loving creatures.
These are the real animals. The ignorantmaases who seem to multiply every day and think they need to document ever minute of their little liives. Like anyone cares. Leave these poor animals in peace!
People are sick there’s no reason they had to do this to an innocent animal, hope they fine and punish these monsters.
This is terrible. People should respect wildlife safety ! And not frightened them. Poor moose. Love you Moose. I wish the men arrived earlier by boat to help the moose – Thank you for trying.
This mob action should have consequences. Where is the law enforcement, and ultimately some justice?