Exchange Student Gets Gored by Bison While Trying to Take a Picture at Yellowstone National Park

Teen girl from Taiwan was hiking by Old Faithful with her host family when she got hit with the animal's horns

Some pictures just aren't worth it.

An exchange student from Taiwan was hiking at Yellowstone National Park with her host family when she came across bison near the Old Faithful Geyser and wanted to take a photo. 

The 16-year-old girl was about three to six feet from the bison when she turned her back for the snapshot. The bison then lifted its head before taking a few steps toward her and gored the young student, according to a statement released by the park.

The girl was treated at the park's Old Faithful clinic and then airlifted to a hospital, according to reports. Her injuries were not life-threatening.

"They were photographing this animal so very close where the bison was standing," spokeswoman Traci Weaver told Reuters. "The bison reacted the way any wild animal would."

Weaver continued to explain that bystanders should always keep a safe distance away from the animals, adding that, "Bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run and are unpredictable and dangerous."

Yellowstone's Facebook page posted about the incident, telling followers, "We want you to have a safe visit to Yellowstone. While park wildlife may look tame, approaching them too closely can have disastrous results. Never approach wildlife! Visitors must stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards (23 m) away from all other large animals—bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes. Bison can sprint three times faster than humans can run and are unpredictable and dangerous. Watch this video clip from years ago. Be safe out there!"