Canadian park rangers were left flabbergasted when they stumbled upon a YouTuber engaging in what he described as his latest "catch and release" stunt. The controversial video creator, who goes by the username FishingWithBread, was caught on camera attempting to lure a majestic Canadian orca onto his humble fishing boat.
According to local authorities, the highly-publicized incident occurred in the heart of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, where the thrill-seeker took it upon himself to "share his fishing skills" with the sea creature. Once a common sight in the nearby waters, orcas have significantly decreased in numbers, and have been a federally-listed endangered species since 2003.
The YouTuber now faces charges for numerous violations, including baiting wildlife, disturbance of marine mammals, and operating a boat without proper registration. However, it wasn't just the park rangers that the fearless YouTuber has to face. Justin Trudeau himself took to Twitter to condemn the stunt and assured Canadians that appropriate legal action will be taken.
FishingWithBread has remained unapologetic about the incident, claiming that he meant no harm to the animal and that it was all for the sake of content creation. He has since posted an apology video, where he takes his subscribers behind the scenes of his arrest and pledges to take more "calculated risks" in the future.
The incident has sparked outrage among animal rights activists, who have lambasted the YouTuber for his blatant disregard of the welfare of the orca. One activist from the local non-profit organization Protect Our Whales, called the incident "a clear example of entertainment-seeking taking precedence over empathy and good judgment."
In the wake of the incident, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have issued a warning to all content creators thinking of engaging in illegal stunts, emphasizing that the park bylaws and Wildlife Act govern the use of national parks.
Meanwhile, in the online community, the controversy has reached new heights- with social media users calling for a boycott of the YouTuber's account. Some have even gone as far as creating a petition to have his channel banned permanently.
While the ordeal has created rifts among the public, one thing remains steadfast; the legal implications have caught the YouTuber hook, line, and sinker. As for the Canadian orca, it has hopefully swum back to its natural habitat, no worse for wear, and with a story to tell its fellow ocean dwellers.
