A viral video of a drone exploding inside an alligator’s mouth has angered social media users.
The bizarre clip, posted on YouTube by Viral Vids channel, sees the object flying over the water before the reptile grabs hold of it and starts eating.
It seemingly busted inside the gator’s mouth, as smoke began coming out of it.
The video came with an explanation apparently by the drone’s operator.
“We were trying to get a close-up of the gator with its mouth open and thought the obstacle avoidance would make the drone fly away,” it read.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gus5FMGtEok
The video continued to make rounds after Sundar Pichai, the Chief Executive Officer of Alphabet and its subsidiary Google, shared the clip on his Twitter account.
A report by Complex stated that the gator named “George” is said to be doing well and “still looked hungry after.”
The social media users were left furious while some called for action against the drone’s operators.
People doing stupid stuff like this is why there are so many rules for flying drones. I hope the people who did this get caught and fined! https://t.co/aJ2D9Le9Xy
— Matthew Paulson (@MattPaulson28) September 1, 2021
This is cruel and sad!
— Kar Deepak Kumar (@thekardeepak) September 1, 2021
https://twitter.com/dsoltesz/status/1432910829888802819
They should ban the use of drones in such areas as now they know, it can endanger the life of these poor creatures!
— Rich (@RuchiAg97440662) September 1, 2021
Pretty sure this is illegal if not murder or harassing & endangering an animal
If done w a similar weapon ppl wouldn’t hesitate to condemn this bc it’s very similar to a fire cracker https://t.co/IuDNb8amxg
— PRINCE RAMSES 🛸🤴🏽#FREEDMEN ( 🖤 , 🖤 ) (@ThePrinceRamses) September 1, 2021
They also criticized those who thought the video to be hilarious and light mannered.
Actually it's not cool 😠..kind of disturbing & dangerous for wildlife..!!! Alligator (crocodile) thought it's a Bird and snatched the drone.. https://t.co/uYJWapT3GP
— 𝙰𝚛𝚞𝙽🦸🏻♂️ (@arun_sak_) September 1, 2021
It's not funny. I hear people are laughing when it caches fire in the video, it was very dumb and cruel as well. I hope the alligator is all right.#alligator #cruel #drone https://t.co/ewwR3UvtCZ
— Rokibul Islam (@rokibul_islaam) September 1, 2021
It is not the first time that the flying object had come across animals or birds. Here are some clips:
Expedition Wildlife mentioned on its website that the use of drone technology is gaining popularity as it help in counting animals. Moreover, they are useful to track animals and birds.
The use of drones near the endangered animal is considered an abuse to wildlife in many countries and comes with heavy fines for the rule violators.
