Wild elephant tramples tourist after ignorant selfie attempt

Skip the selfie safari.

A tourist who attempted to snap a photo with an elephant was subsequently severely injured after being trampled and stripped — revealing his bare behind for all manner of beasts to bear witness. Authorities are calling it a reckless and dangerous stunt.

The shocking incident, which occurred near a temple in Karnataka, India on Sunday, was captured on video by other visitors at the wildlife reserve. The footage has since gone viral online, sparking outrage and renewed warnings about human-animal interactions.

The tourist, identified as R. Basavaraju, had reportedly trespassed into a restricted forest area when he encountered the wild elephant. Witnesses say Basavaraju attempted to take a selfie with the animal, which was eating carrots by the roadside at the time.

According to one bystander, Daniel Osorio, the elephant was provoked by the sudden camera flash and immediately became agitated. The video shows the elephant raising its trunk and charging across a road — startling drivers as it sprinted after Basavaraju.

As the massive mammal gave chase, Basavaraju attempted to flee but fell face-first onto the tarmac of the busy road. The elephant caught up with him in seconds, stomping on him repeatedly in a terrifying moment that left onlookers horrified.

At one point, the elephant’s attack was so forceful it tore off the man’s trousers and underwear — it was a bum-mer to see.

After the violent episode, the elephant hovered over the injured tourist briefly before trotting away into the forest, giving the man a chance to escape.

Miraculously, Basavaraju survived the attack but was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries.

Following the incident, local forest authorities fined Basavaraju 25,000 rupees (around $285) for trespassing and provoking wildlife. He was also ordered to record a video confession, in which he admitted his actions were a result of ignorance regarding wildlife safety rules.

According to the Daily Mail, Osorio said, “This incident is a strong reminder to follow the rules of the wildlife reserves and to let trained authorities, not people on foot, handle situations like this.”

The Forest Department issued a statement condemning such reckless behavior.

India is home to over 30,000 wild elephants — more than any other country — and holds around 60% of the world’s entire Asian elephant population. As tourism grows, so do conflicts between humans and wildlife, often due to disrespect for boundaries and safety rules.

This is not the first time elephants have attacked tourists in India. Last year, a Russian woman was violently slammed to the ground by an elephant named Gouri at the Amer Fort in Jaipur. The same elephant had also severely injured a local shopkeeper months earlier.

While elephants are typically gentle, conservationists and animal welfare groups warn that provocation, mistreatment, or fear can cause them to lash out—especially in areas where they are used for entertainment or forced into unnatural settings.

Basavaraju’s case has reignited debates about whether provoking wild animals should be treated as a criminal offense, with growing calls for harsher penalties for tourists who put both themselves and animals at risk for the sake of viral content.