Elk vs. Photographer | Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Update: I’ve been in contact with the photographer in the above video and we would both like to issue a statement regarding the news of the National Park Service’s decision to put the elk down. My statement: I am deeply saddened by the fate of the elk. It has certainly pulled a black cloud over this whirlwind “viral video“ experience. I spoke to the reporter who broke the story and she assured me the decision was based on a pattern of aggressive behavior that began prior to the incident documented in this video. The behavior was the result of visitors feeding the elk and conditioning them to seek food from humans. This video only serves as an example of the elk’s dangerous behavior, not an impetus to it.