On March 15th, a tragic incident occurred when E Ramkumar was killed by a wild elephant while trying to take a selfie near the Palakode Forest Reserve in Tamil Nadu, India. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, with cases of people being victimized by wild animals while taking selfies increasing in the country.
The selfie culture in India has become a dangerous phenomenon, with influencers risking their lives to take selfies to gain attention on social media platforms. The media has attributed this trend to the reduction of elephant habitats, causing them to leave the forest and enter private areas, putting both the elephants and the public at risk.
It is not just wild animals that pose a danger to selfie-takers. In November of last year, a group of women taking selfies in western India fell into a waterfall, resulting in the deaths of four people.
According to the US National Library of Medicine, more than half of the 250 people who died trying to take selfies worldwide between 2011 and 2017 were Indians. These alarming statistics highlight the need for people to prioritize their safety over social media attention.
In conclusion, while taking a selfie may seem like a harmless act, the tragic death of E Ramkumar serves as a reminder that the selfie culture in India has consequences that are not worth risking one’s life for. It’s crucial for people to be aware of the risks involved and to exercise caution when taking selfies, especially when it involves wild animals.