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A 16-year-old girl was gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park on Friday, leaving her with serious injuries, according to the National Park Service.

The Taiwanese exchange student was visiting Yellowstone with her host family when she turned around to take a picture while standing less than 6 feet away from the wild animal when "the bison lifted its head, took a couple steps and gored her," according to a statement released by the park.

The girl was airlifted to a hospital, where she was treated for serious but not life threatening injuries, the statement said.

Park officials used the event as an opportunity to remind people to keep a distance of 25 yards (75 feet) between themselves and large animals.

"While park wildlife may look tame, approaching them too closely can have disastrous results," said a post on Yellowstone Park's Facebook page. According to park officials, Bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run.

SOCIAL

Yesterday a girl sustained serious, but not life threatening injuries resulting from an encounter with a bison. http://t.co/WwNsvMwpfz — YellowstoneNPS (@YellowstoneNPS) May 16, 2015

— Elisha Fieldstadt