A tourist has gone viral after footage showed her standing dangerously close to a bison at Badlands National Park in South Dakota in order to take a selfie, prompting fresh warnings about the risks of approaching wild bison. The clip is the latest in a series of viral incidents highlighting how visitors to US national parks continue to underestimate the danger posed by these animals, despite repeated warnings from park authorities.

The footage adds to a string of similar incidents reported across American national parks, including at Yellowstone, where bison attacks have reportedly surged, with victims including an elderly man tossed several feet into the air and a woman dragged by one of the animals. Wildlife experts and commentators note that bison are far larger, faster and more unpredictable than they appear, and park visitors are urged to keep a safe distance rather than approach them for photographs.