Anthony Yates
An influencer from the US is under investigation by Australian authorities after he posted videos of himself wrestling animals on social media.
Videos by Rare
What happened: Mike Holston, who goes by the handle @therealtarzann on Instagram, shares various animal-related videos with his 15.5 million followers on the platform. However, per CBS News, some of his more recent content has caught the attention of Australian authorities.
- A pair of Holston’s latest videos, where he manhandles several crocodiles, have drawn ire, even from his own fans. In one, he grips a crocodile around the neck and excitedly says, “He’s got a hold of me. But I’ve got a hold of him.” The video has over 28k responses, and while some praise Holston’s bravery, others are less impressed.
- One user blasts the influencer, saying, “This is horrible. That crocodile is so stressed. This behavior is illegal and crocodiles are a protected species.” On a separate video, another writes, “There is nothing more unattractive than a man mishandling an innocent animal.”
- Per CBS News, Holston claims his videos are for educational purposes.
PETA Calls For The Influencer To Be Deported And Banned From The Country
A call for action: According to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling on authorities to take action.
- The organization reportedly said in a statement, “Just like wombats, koalas and other native Australian wildlife, crocodiles are sensitive individuals who experience pain and stress, and who deserve to live in peace without fear that visiting influencers will tackle and roughly handle them.”
- The Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) has also said they are “actively investigating” the influencer’s antics. “These actions are extremely dangerous and illegal, and we are actively exploring strong compliance action, including fines, to deter any person from this type of behavior,” they reportedly said.
Steve Irwin’s father has addressed the videos: According to The New Daily, Bob Irwin has joined authorities in condemning Holston’s content. He noted comparisons between the influencer and his son, noting that Steve always had permits for his work.
“This isn’t a Steve Irwin issue. This is about an individual illegally interfering with protected fauna,” Bob said. “You can’t even put them in the same sentence. Everything Steve did was to respect wildlife,” he added.
