Influencer Faces Backlash After Disturbing Flamingos in Protected Yucatan Wetland

Sisal, Yucatan — A Yucatan-based influencer known as Elisa “la Yuca” has sparked widespread criticism on social media after posting a video showing dozens of flamingos fleeing their habitat when she disturbed them with loud music.

The incident occurred in Sisal, a mangrove and wetland area in northwestern Yucatan where the birds congregate to feed and nest during this time of year. In the footage, the influencer acknowledged that the high volume of her music caused the flock to take flight, expressing surprise as dozens of birds flew away from the area.

“Guys, we’re here with the flock of flamingos, look at that, how many there are, a bunch of flamingos,” she says in the video before confessing: “They say you shouldn’t play music around here, the truth is we didn’t know, but look how many flamingos there are, a bunch. They woke up, they heard Yeri Mua, they woke up, and look how many there are and more keep coming out, like a plague of flamingos, look. They’re all leaving…”

The video quickly went viral, drawing anger from thousands of users who criticized the influencer’s actions and called for authorities to take action. Commenters described the incident as more than just social media controversy, suggesting it violated Mexico’s General Wildlife Law and Federal Criminal Code.

Users commented: “Stop making people like this famous please”; “Ignorance of the law doesn’t exempt you from responsibility”; “fine please”; “This is a legal complaint, not just online criticism”; “Very irresponsible. You yourself confessed that music shouldn’t be played.”

In a follow-up TikTok video responding to the backlash, the influencer downplayed the incident, claiming her family wasn’t the only group present in the flamingo habitat and that her music wasn’t that loud. She added that no signs in the area prohibited music and mocked those calling for fines, saying: “Those people saying that have nothing better to do. Let’s see, I’ll be waiting there for my fine, let’s see what they’re going to tell me, because the truth is I was there like any tourist.”