- Bison knocks tourist to the ground during an encounter, leading to a viral video of the incident.
- Bison refuses to let tourist stand up, creating a tense situation captured on video.
- Video of the incident goes viral, drawing widespread attention to the encounter.
- Ryński said the tourist was fortunate that this particular bison was relatively calm.
A tourist in Poland's Białowieża Forest faced a terrifying encounter with a European bison after approaching within 20 feet. The bison charged, knocking him to the ground and standing over him, swiping at him whenever he attempted to rise.
Nature photographer Grzegorz Ryński, who filmed the incident, shouted for the man to stay down while he maneuvered his car to create a barrier between the bison and the tourist. Ryński kept a door open for the man to climb inside, but the tourist, appearing to be in shock, attempted to escape on foot.
Ryński then reversed his vehicle alongside the man, using it to keep the bison at bay until they could safely distance themselves. The tourist sustained a deep gash on his calf and heavy bruising, later requiring hospitalization, according to Ryński's wife. Ryński remarked that the tourist was fortunate the bison was relatively calm during the encounter, which could have ended much worse.4
“He was lucky that this particular bison was relatively calm,” Ryński noted, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of getting too close to wild animals, especially in their natural habitats.
“The bison's relatively calm demeanor likely prevented a more serious injury, according to Ryński. The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of wildlife encounters, even with seemingly docile animals.”
The Daily Beast
