In India, a man was fatally trampled by a wild elephant as he tried to take a selfie in Maharashtra’s western region. India reportedly has recorded the highest number of selfie deaths followed by the US and Russia.
A man in southern India was mauled to death earlier in February by an Asiatic lion after he jumped into his enclosure to take a selfie with the animal. Prahlad Gujjar, 38, scaled a 12ft-high fence and jumped into the lion’s enclosure at Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati on Thursday, Andhra Pradesh, zoo officials said.
There have been 379 selfie-related deaths recorded worldwide between 2008 and 2021, according to a study published in the Journal of Travel Medicine.
The statistic that there were 379 selfie-related deaths worldwide between 2008 and 2021, as recorded in a Journal of Travel Medicine study, highlights a unique and often overlooked safety concern linked to mobile devices and social media trends. These deaths typically result from individuals attempting to capture extreme or unusual photographs, often in dangerous locations or risky situations. Common causes include falls from high places, drowning, accidents involving vehicles, and incidents involving wild animals. The desire to capture and share attention-grabbing images can lead individuals to ignore personal safety, underestimate risks, or act impulsively, sometimes with fatal consequences.
The study points to broader social and psychological factors at play, such as “selfie culture” and the influence of social media, where unusual or extreme photos can gain social approval in the form of likes, comments, and shares. For some, this social validation may even encourage them to take increasingly risky actions. The age group most affected tends to be young adults, who are both highly active on social media and more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors. Interestingly, the study suggests that these incidents may be preventable with awareness campaigns and the establishment of “no-selfie zones” in particularly dangerous areas, such as cliff edges, waterfalls, and busy roads. These efforts aim to remind people of the potential dangers involved and encourage safer practices when photographing in hazardous settings.
Ultimately, the study sheds light on an unintended consequence of smartphone technology and the social media era: a new type of public health risk that underscores the need for balanced awareness between capturing memorable moments and prioritizing personal safety.
Selfie-related incidents involving big cats—like lions, tigers, and leopards—do pose a real danger and have occasionally resulted in severe injuries and, in rare cases, fatalities. These incidents typically occur in wildlife reserves, zoos, or during safari tours where people attempt to get close-up shots with these animals to capture an exciting or “wild” photo. The risks stem from the natural unpredictability and immense strength of these animals, which even in captivity, remain powerful, instinct-driven predators.
One notable subset of these incidents involves tourists or visitors crossing safety barriers or ignoring warnings in hopes of getting a dramatic selfie. This can put people within striking distance of big cats, sometimes resulting in aggressive defensive responses from the animals. For example, there have been documented cases of people being attacked after getting too close to lions or tigers in safari parks, especially when leaning out of vehicles or stepping too close to enclosures.
In response to these incidents, some parks and wildlife reserves have implemented strict rules to prevent dangerous interactions. They may designate “no-selfie zones” around big cats and require visitors to stay inside vehicles at all times or maintain safe distances. Additionally, education campaigns are often promoted, warning tourists that big cats are not safe to approach, regardless of how tame they may appear. These efforts aim to prevent injury to both humans and animals, as any incident can also lead to harmful consequences for the animals involved, especially if they’re deemed a danger to visitors.
The trend of “wild animal selfies” has prompted animal rights groups and conservationists to discourage these behaviours, reminding the public that big cats are best appreciated from a safe distance and should not be treated as photo props. By maintaining safe practices and respecting wildlife boundaries, visitors can help reduce the risk of injury and protect these majestic animals from harm.
Here are some individual cases where attempting selfies with big cats led to severe consequences, illustrating the dangers involved in disregarding safety protocols when interacting with these powerful animals.
- Lion Selfie in South Africa (2015): A 29-year-old American woman died after attempting to take a close-up photo with a lion while on safari in Johannesburg, South Africa. She and her tour guide had lowered the vehicle’s window to capture the shot, despite posted warnings against it. Unfortunately, the lion attacked her through the open window. This tragic incident underscored the importance of keeping barriers in place and adhering to park guidelines, as lions can react unpredictably, especially if they feel threatened or startled.
- Tiger Selfie at a Thai Zoo (2014): In Thailand, where “tiger temples” and other facilities allow close encounters with big cats, a tourist was severely injured while posing with a tiger at a zoo. The tiger became agitated during the encounter and mauled the visitor, resulting in serious injuries. Despite handlers being present, the incident highlighted the unpredictability of even seemingly calm animals in captive environments. Following similar incidents, there has been mounting pressure on such facilities to end up-close interactions between visitors and tigers.
- Leopard Attack in India (2018): In a lesser-known but equally harrowing case, a tourist in India was attacked by a leopard while trying to take a selfie near the animal. The incident occurred in a wildlife sanctuary where the man had ignored warnings and left his vehicle. The leopard charged, leading to injuries that required hospitalization. This case emphasizes the danger of venturing outside secure areas in wildlife settings and ignoring distance protocols with wild animals.
- Cheetah Selfie Attempt in South Africa (2013): At a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa, a tourist was mauled while trying to capture a selfie with a pair of cheetahs. Though generally less aggressive than lions or tigers, cheetahs are still powerful predators, and the attempt to interact with them closely led to severe bite and scratch injuries. After this incident, the sanctuary strengthened its visitor policies to prohibit physical interaction with the animals.
These cases have led to greater awareness and some regulatory action within the tourism industry, especially in safari and wildlife tourism sectors. Many parks and reserves have since imposed strict guidelines prohibiting interactions with big cats to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Comment: among some people who are fixated on social media success there is such a keen desire to get that brilliant selfie that they ignore all the usual instinctive warnings about the dangers of getting close to wild animals that they risk their lives for this single photography of very little intrinsic value. It is a form of collective madness.
More: In Thailand tigers have lighter flames put under their noses to force their heads up for selfies – Also it works the other way: animals are often exploited in a very concerning way to service the desire for selfies. For an animal advocate it is utterly unacceptable and gross animal abuse.
