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A Kenyan elephant encounter has sparked controversy after video emerged showing a man pouring beer down the animal’s trunk at a nature preserve – with the culprit’s identity revealing an unexpected criminal past.
Kenya’s wildlife authorities are investigating the incident at Ol Jogi Conservancy, home to around 500 elephants roaming its 145-square-mile expanse. The elephant involved, Bupa – a male rescued from Zimbabwe in 1989 – has lived at the preserve for over three decades.
The video, which shows the visitor pouring Tusker beer down Bupa’s trunk, was briefly posted to Instagram before being removed following public backlash. According to the BBC, the incident occurred last year but only recently came to the conservancy’s attention when the footage appeared online.
Wildlife officials haven’t officially named the perpetrator.
Spanish tourist in Kenya gives beer to elephant
Spanish tourist in Kenya gives beer to elephant
The incident is being investigated by the Kenya Wildlife Service and the relevant authorities. pic.twitter.com/teut0sYhax
— MustShareNews (@MustShareNews) August 29, 2025
However, digital breadcrumbs lead to a surprising discovery about the man’s identity. The video was posted to an Instagram account for “Skydive Rhino Kenya” – a company featuring the same individual posing with various exotic animals. While his name isn’t listed on the account or the company’s in-development website, court records provided unexpected clarity.
The company was named in a June asset seizure lawsuit filed in a Nairobi high court. The filing references a French/Spanish dual national who allegedly received $93,000 for falsely claiming “he was able to transport by air 500 kgs of high value cargo from Kenya to Dubai.”
This individual shares a name with a convicted drug kingpin who relocated to Kenya after serving nearly four years in prison. His criminal history includes trafficking hash, ecstasy, and cocaine into Ibiza – a operation he ran for decades before authorities finally caught up with him.
Kenya is known for its strict protection of endangered species, including its approximately 35,000 elephants. The country maintains dozens of national parks, preserves, and sanctuaries where visitors can observe these magnificent creatures – with strict guidelines against any behavior that might endanger the animals.
A Digital Trail
Further confirming the connection, the same man appears in numerous photos on another Instagram account with the handle “professional_survivor_rhino.” There, he identifies himself and links to an Amazon Prime documentary chronicling his previous life as a drug trafficker.
The investigation highlights the intersection between wildlife tourism and visitor behavior – particularly when those visitors bring questionable pasts to sensitive conservation areas.
