Everyone has been talking about the video of the Elk and the Photographer who came in contact with each other several days ago. Sadly they decided to put that Elk down and the photographer (who was seated on the ground not feeding the elk and being careful not to move much or stand up so the elk didnt take it as a challenge) has taken all sorts of harsh comments from individuals wanting to put blame on him. This photographer wasnt making any attempt to approach the elk, the elk was approaching him (and suddenly running could lead the elk to see the action as a challenge or the photographer as prey). I would have very likely frozen in place in the same situation. I am about to share a video with you all from August of 1999. This is an example of things that are happening in the National Park on a daily basis that truly anger me and show no common sense on the part of many of our park visitors. In this video you will see a very large black bear attempting to get into a parked car in the parking lot at Clingmans Dome. The bear apparently smells some kind of food within the car and a window was left cracked open. This however, is not my greatest anger involving this video. What really angers me is how close this camera person is, the fact that he isnt retreating cautiously and to ice the cake, you see some woman in a peach shirt within 10 feet of this wild animal in attempt to take pictures (probably the stupidest thing ever) and to add fuel to the already stacked fire of frustration, you see KIDS also within just feet of this massive wild black bear! On two seperate occasions during my decade of research and professional photography (using 500m telephoto lenses to keep a huge distance between myself and these creatures), I have seen situations similar to this one. My father was around to see me nearly in a fist fight with a father who was taking his two young kids (both under 10 years of age) to get closer and closer to a bear to see it better. Mind you, the father had the kids between him and the bear on top of it. I had some very heated words. So my followers, I ask and beg of you. Please please PLEASE understand that these animals are WILD. You are in there home and they will protect there home just as you would your own. This is NOT A ZOO. Respect the park, its wildlife and the people around you. Enjoy it for all that it is, but use common sense. Over 100 people go missing in this park annually and several have been killed by a variety of wildlife. Thanks for readying. ~ Willy Adkins / Smoky Mountain Adventure Crew https://youtube/watch?v=fBnGe9HDGBI
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 01:25:28 +0000
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