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'What's wrong with people?': Video of bison attacking family at Yellowstone National Park sparks online debate

Social media has slammed tourists for trespassing into the animal's territory when they are already warned to keep their distance

A horrifying video has captured the moment a 1,800lb bison gored a 34-year-old man as he saved a little boy from being attacked in the Yellowstone National Park on June 28, Tuesday. The Colorado man was in the national park when the male bison charged at him. However, he managed to save a child before the beast could hurt him.

Park rangers have already warned visitors to keep 75ft (25 yards) away from the animals as they could feel threatened when approached. The video showed the two adults walking toward the bison with the child on a path when the animal attacked them. The man is seen running toward the child and the other adult as dust flies into the air because of the charging bison.

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The man quickly saved the boy but before he could escape, the bison latched onto his arm and lifted him into the air. The injured man was taken to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in an ambulance following the incident.

The National Park Service said in a statement, "The male was walking with his family on a boardwalk when a bull bison charged the group. Family members did not leave the area, and the bull bison continued to charge and gored the male."

Rob Goodell, who filmed the attack, told the Cowboy State Daily, "The dad and the kid were just walking up to the bison when the bison took off. Anyone who says that the bison just attacked that guy or whatever, that's bulls**t. The bison was just protecting his ground." Goodell continued to say that he had been watching the family and noticed how close they were to the animal. 

Bisons can weigh more than 2,000lb and are six feet tall. They can run three times faster than humans. "Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild and can be dangerous when approached," park rangers warned. "When an animal is near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area, give it space. Stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes - and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in proximity."

Social media has slammed tourists for trespassing in animals' territory when they are already warned to keep their distance. "It happens every year and they have been warned and signs everywhere they got what is called Consequences for their actions!!!!!" one user wrote on Twitter. "This happens a lot. People are warned to stay back but they think they are smarter and faster so they temp fate....and lose," wrote another. One user said, "It’s the Bison’s house! I was there last summer. Saw folks getting out of their cars in a herd of bison, chasing after bears, all the stupid human tricks. Makes one scratch his head…"

"The humans trespassed; the bison stood its ground," one user wrote, while another said, "What's wrong with people? It's not a petting zoo. Bison are as dangerous as grizzlies." "How irresponsible. That Dad should be charged with endangerment!" one user said. However, there was also a section of people who praised the man for his quick thinking and saving the boy from the bison's wrath. There were some who said on social media that the bison charged at the family despite the fact that they were just standing there doing nothing.