Tourists destroy 'beautiful' rock formation at national park as people look on in horror

Footage has emerged online of two tourists accused of 'destroying' a rock formation at a National Park site.

The incident took place on Saturday (13 April) in Lake Mead National Recreation Area in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona and footage of the two men allegedly involved has been widespread on social media in a bid to identify the 'vandalism suspects'.

The National Park Service has asked for help identifying these two men (Facebook/ Lake Mead National Recreation Area - National Park Service)

A still image taken from the footage was shared to Facebook by the Lake Mead National Recreation Area - National Park Service (NPS) on 13 April.

The post reads: "US park rangers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are seeking information from the public to identify two vandalism suspects seen here.

"In a now viral video said to be recorded on the evening of Sunday, April 7, 2024, two adult males are seen toppling natural rock formations at the Redstone Dunes Trail.

"Information from visitors is often very helpful to investigators. If you were on the Redstone Dunes Trail on the evening of Sunday, April 7, 2024, or if you have information that could help identify the suspects, please submit a tip. "

You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know: CALL the NPS-wide Tip Line 888-653-0009. ONLINE go.nps.gov/SubmitATip. EMAIL [email protected]. EMERGENCY dial 9-1-1." Catch the clip here:

The full footage was shared by Instagram account Tourons of Yellowstone which stated: "Two idiots destroying what nature created over thousands of years in front of screaming girl."

The post notes 'not everyone feels comfortable confronting someone' praising those behind the camera for doing their 'best' in the situation by whipping out their cameras and sending it to authorities.

The tourists knocked two rocks down from the formation (Facebook/ Lake Mead National Recreation Area - National Park Service)

Upon seeing the video, Public Information Officer Lake Mead National Recreation Area John Haynes questioned: "Why would you even do something like this, like why on Earth would you do this?"

He explained the incident 'feels like a personal attack in a way', with the 'beautiful' rock formation and site 'one of [his] favorite places in the park'.

"And they’re up there just destroying it. I don’t understand that," he continues. "[...] It pretty appalling, it is kind of disgusting."

According to Haynes, if identified and convicted, the two tourists could face 'from six months in jail and a $5,000 fine all the way up to a felony offense'.

UNILAD has contacted National Park Service for further comment.

Topics: Instagram, Social Media, US News, Viral, Environment, Nature, Facebook

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.