Bison attacks Australian tourist at Yellowstone


© Barb Ignatius
A Yellowstone bison

Yellowstone National Park is known for its breathtaking landscapes and its array of wildlife inhabitants, but one Australian man got a little bit too close for comfort out in nature.

An unnamed 62-year-old tourist had a harrowing encounter with a bison while visiting the park. Authorities said that the man was rushed to the hospital after being tossed three times in the air by the bison. He sustained serious injuries but survived.

Yellowstone officials reported that several people had crowded the bison as it quietly lay near a path from the famous site of Old Faithful geyser. Park officials said that the bison was already becoming agitated due to the people crowding near it and it attacked the man as he took photos from a few feet away.

A bison is unpredictable, dangerous, and capable of running three times faster than humans. They weight as much as a full-sized sedan.

This is the second incident of bison attack in a span of three weeks. A bison gored a 16-year-old Taiwanese girl last May 16 as she posed for a picture while visiting the Old Faithful area.

"The girl turned her back to the bison to have her picture taken when the bison lifted its head, took a couple of steps and gored her," Yellowstone National Park Service said in a statement.

Park officials advise visitors to strictly observe all signs and warnings placed around the park for their safety.