By now it’s a joke or maybe black humor how many people have been killed while taking unduly exciting selfies to impress their friends. Instead of a like, they get a nomination for the Darwin Award. There is now even a web page that gives the details of the weirdest selfie induced death in each country. Besides killing or injuring themselves, these selfie narcissists (competitors?) harm others, and not just other people. Wildlife and natural scenic beauty are at risk and being marred.

Most recently rangers in Yellowstone National Park learned via social media that three from the group “High on Life SundayFundayz” had walked well off the boardwalk at Grand Prismatic Spring. They tramped across the delicate mats of colorful algae and bacteria to pose themselves. Walking across these mats leaves discolored footprints that take a long time to heal. This huge, colorful hot spring is regarded as one of the most beautiful natural features in the world. Last year in the Park a mother was gored by a bison while taking a selfie with her child just a few yards in front of a wild bison.

A former ranger and friend of mine tells me that it is becoming common with foreign visitors, especially the Chinese tourists, to walk or even drive out onto the geothermal features for selfies. Pretty Chinese girls are fond of selfies while waving colorful silk scarves with a wild animal in the picture.

Early this year in Argentina a baby dolphin was pulled out of the sea by a crowd of people and passed around so that they could take selfies. The dolphin died. In the Florida Keys the rare, tiny Key deer are being harmed by selfie takers who draw them to the busy roadside and feed them, erasing their natural fears of humans.

Some might say this about honoring and respecting wildlife. I think it is only about putting forward themselves.

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Suggestion. Do a web image search for “Yellowstone selfies.”

The Grand Prismatic spring story. “Tourist Bros Stomp On Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring.” Huffington Post.