australian Authorities Investigate Influencer Over Crocodile Encounter, PETA Calls โฃfor โDeportation
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA โ- Australian authorities have โlaunched an โฃinvestigation into American influencer Mike Holston, known online as “the โtrue โขtarzan,” following the release of videos โdepicting โhim wrestling with crocodiles and other wildlife in Queensland. Animal rightsโค organization PETA is demanding Holston’s deportation, citing animalโ abuse and exploitation.
The investigationโข centers on videos posted to Holston’s Instagram account, including a clip from September 5th โคwithโข 1.7 million views showing him grappling with a saltwater crocodile and lifting it into the air.โค Authorities โcould fine Holston up to $24,711 (22,487 euros)โค if prosecuted, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Deportationโข remains a decision for the national government, which has yet to comment.
PETA releasedโ a statement asserting that “regulations are imposed to dissuadeโ the influencers of the exploitingโข and perilous useโข of animals as accessories in โsocial networks.”
Holston defendedโข his actions inโ a โขpost published a week ago,statingโค the videos were “for โฃeducational purposes” and warningโ viewers that theseโข are “salty โฃwater crocodiles,in protected โaboriginal lands,which evenโฃ eat the locals.” He cautioned against recreating the images.
However, numerous users criticized Holston’s justification, accusing him of causingโค undue stress to โคthe animals toโ gain followers. Other videos show Holston handling a spiny echidnaโฃ as it defensively curls into a ball and shaking the bodies of kangaroos and โขwallabies killed โฃby vehicles.
The incident follows a similarโค backlash in March against a U.S.influencer who filmed โhimself briefly separating โคaโค bison calf from its mother โin Yellowstone National Park.