Taiwanese girl gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park

File photo: A lone bison roams outside the entrance gate to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Mont. on Thursday, March 17, 2011. (AP/Janie Osborne)

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- A 16-year-old girl from Taiwan has been gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park while posing for a picture near the animal.

The National Park Service says the unidentified girl's injuries were serious but not life-threatening.

The agency described her as an exchange student from Taiwan who was visiting the park with her host family.

The incident occurred shortly after noon Friday in the Old Faithful area.

The Park Service says she and others were between 90 centimetres and 1.8 metres from the bison when she turned her back to the animal to have her picture taken. The bison took a couple of steps and gored her.

The girl was airlifted to an area hospital.

The Park Service advises visitors to stay at least 23 metres away from bison in the park.