Man offers ‘Maaza’ to wild bear, Internet erupts in anger

In a bizarre yet disturbing incident from Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, a young man’s attempt to create content for social media has sparked widespread outrage. A video that has now gone viral shows him casually offering a bottle of Maaza, a popular mango drink, to a wild bear. 

What may have seemed like a lighthearted stunt for an Instagram reel has instead triggered a wave of criticism, with wildlife experts, forest officials, and netizens condemning the act as dangerous, irresponsible, and deeply disrespectful to nature. 

The Clip That Sparked Outrage

The incident reportedly took place in Nara village. In the viral video, the youth can be seen placing the bottle of the mango drink in front of the bear before walking away, flashing a smile at the camera. The unsuspecting bear then picks up the bottle and begins to drink from it, a moment captured for an alleged Instagram reel.

छत्तीसगढ के कांकेर जिले से एक हैरान कर देने वाला मामला सामने आया है. जहां एक युवक रील बनाने के चक्कर में भालू को कोल्ड ड्रिंक पीला रहा है...#Chhatisgarh #Reel #Viral #Kanker pic.twitter.com/2hGLSYFWje

— Vishwesh Tiwari (@VishweshTi92858) September 13, 2025

Forest Department Steps In

Following the uproar, the Forest Department has begun efforts to identify and trace the man in the video. Officials stressed that such acts not only endanger wildlife but also put humans at serious risk.

Netizens Slam the Act

Social media users were furious. One wrote: “Dangerous and irresponsible! Wild bears aren’t for social media stunts.” Another commented: “Why give junk food to animals? Even humans shouldn’t drink this.” Others demanded strict action against the youth for exploiting wildlife for online attention.

Not an Isolated Case

Such irresponsible stunts are not new. Just last month, a Spanish tourist in Kenya faced global backlash after pouring beer down an elephant’s trunk, forcing the conservancy to issue a statement condemning the act.

A Larger Message

Experts warn that wild animals must never be treated as props for content. Irresponsible acts may seem entertaining but can cause long-term harm to both animals and humans.