A photographer has come under fire after being caught on video swiping at a cheetah that had climbed onto his safari jeep.
The incident, shared on the Wonders of Africa Instagram page, shows two cheetahs peering over the edge of the vehicle.
The man responded by thrusting his camera at one of the big cats, prompting the animal to retreat and snarl at him.
The video captures the man continuing to flap his camera at the cheetah for several seconds before a safari guide eventually starts the jeep’s engine, causing the animals to slowly back away.
The footage sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many users condemning both the photographer and the guide for allowing the situation to escalate.
One Instagram user vented, “Knock the guy out and toss him from the vehicle. After provoking them like that, let’s see how he does against a cheetah!”
Others expressed concern over the lack of responsibility from the safari guide. “I’ve been on safari, and no way would a good guide let this happen. You can get close to the animals while still respecting their space. This is dangerous and unnecessary,” one commenter remarked.
Critics pointed out that allowing a cheetah to get this close to the vehicle could encourage the animals to behave in ways that blur the line between wild and tame.
“Start your car and avoid letting animals climb on board,” another user advised. “We need to stop treating wild animals like pets.”
Some viewers were shocked by the man’s actions, with one commenting, “You’re lucky the cheetah didn’t respond more aggressively. Making a sharp noise or using the horn would have been smarter.”
The consensus on the video was clear: the photographer’s behavior was reckless and inappropriate, with many agreeing that the incident could have been easily avoided with better judgment.
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