A woman has been attacked by a bison in Yellowstone National Park in the United States.
Kim Hancock, 59, was gored by the animal and taken to a medical facility, where she is recuperating. The incident has been blamed on heavy crowds at the park crowding the bison, which can charge if provoked or scared, reports ABC News.
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The woman, who is originally from Santa Rosa, California, was on a boardwalk close to Fountain Paint Pot, one of the beauty spots in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, when the incident occurred.
Fountain Paint Pot is in the Lower Geyser section of the famous national park, close to the state line with Idaho and Montana.
In a statement, the National Park Service said: "Hancock and a crowd of people approached within ten yards of the bison while walking along a boardwalk.
"At one point, people were closer than 15 feet from the bison. When it crossed the boardwalk, the bison became agitated and charged the crowd, goring Hancock. The bison immediately left the area.
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"Rangers responded to the incident and treated Hancock for a hip injury: she was transported by paramedic ambulance to the Big Sky Medical Center in Big Sky, Montana, in good condition.
"Animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be. Give animals space when they're near trails, boardwalks, parking lots, or in developed areas."
"Always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other animals, including bison and elk. If you can't maintain these distances, turn around and find an alternate route."
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There have been several incidents already in the park this summer, with four people injured by wildlife in the last few months. An elderly visitor to the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone was butted by a bison in May. There was another attack in 2017, none in 2016 and five in 2015.
Two people have been attacked by elks in recent days as well. A 51-year-old employee of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, which is located within the Yellowstone National Park, was attacked by a mother elk protecting her young last Sunday, while a 53-year-old woman was attacked near the same hotel and hospitalised on Tuesday.
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