Bison Gores Girl At Yellowstone National Park
A bison gored a girl at Yellowstone National Park as the Taiwanese exchange student posed for a photo. The 16-year-old girl was visiting the park with her host family when she reportedly stood near the buffalo and was gored.
The Taiwanese girl gored by a bison sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries, according to National Park Service representatives. The bison gored the girl on early Friday afternoon near Old Faithful at the Yellowstone National Park.
National Park Service staffers said the Taiwanese girl and several others were standing about three to six feet from the buffalo when the massive animal took a few steps in the exchange student’s direction and gored her. The girl reportedly turned her back on the bison when posing for the photo. The park service cautions visitors to Yellowstone to remain at least 25 yards away from the buffalo that roam the national park.
When National Parks Service rangers arrived on the scene of the bison goring, they reportedly found a group of people standing less than 10 feet from the buffalo. The park rangers and bystanders worked together to move the injured teenager a safe distance away from the bison.
The Taiwanese girl gored by a bison was transported to the Old Faithful Clinic for initial emergency treatment and then airlifted to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
“While they’re accustomed to seeing people, they all have a tipping point, a place where if you cross that line, they are going to get aggravated and want you to give them their space,” Yellowstone National Park spokeswoman Traci Weaver, said. “And this time of the year in particular when they have their young with them, it’s just crucial for people to be at least 25 yards away from the animals.”
The Yellowstone National Park representative also noted that the bison that gored the Taiwanese exchange student will be allowed to remain in the park and graze at it always has. Weaver added that the buffalo was merely protecting its space when it gored the teen girl.
[Image via: Shutterstock.com]
