GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK (CBS Las Vegas) – A viral video from the Grand Canyon attracted attention for the wrong reasons. On it, two men could be seen luring a squirrel to the edge of the canyon, then one of them kicks the animal off the cliff.
The man who posted the video said he wasn’t involved in the apparent animal cruelty incident and that the only thing he knew about the men is that they were French.
Now People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is getting involved. The American, French and British branches of the animal rights group have banded together to offer a reward of over $16,000 to anyone who can help police track down the men.
Ben Williamson, a spokesman for Peta UK, tells The Independent that anyone who harms animals are a “danger to everyone” and must be stopped “before they act again”.
“It is imperative that any community faced with a sadistic and violent act such as this take measures to find the culprit or culprits and bring them to justice,” he added.
Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Kirby-Lynn Shedlowski told the paper the exact spot of the incident was identifiable by the video’s backdrop.
If the men are found, they could be charged with disturbing or harassing wildlife, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Grand Canyon Chief Ranger Bill Wright says it’s unlikely the men, if found, could be prosecuted for animal cruelty because they would have to find the animal that was harmed.
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