An Italian influencer has caused outrage after he filmed himself carving his initials into an ancient rock in the Canary Islands.

The suspect’s identity was withheld in reports, but he reportedly describes himself on Instagram – where he has 38,000 followers – as an actor and model from Bologna.

Now he is being sought by Spanish authorities after he filmed himself carving his initials – A. D. – into a protected fossil dune.

The site is located in the Barranco de los Enamorados (Lovers’ Gully) in the municipality of La Oliva on the island of Fuerteventura.

The fossil dunes were formed between 342,000 and 215,000 years ago and were declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2008 for their geological significance.

They are home to gastropod fossils that provide important data for reconstructing palaeoclimatic conditions and palaeobiological changes that occurred in the Pleistocene at such latitudes.

A newly-discovered species of the genus Cochlicella is said to be abundant in the vicinity.

The carving made by the Italian is reportedly one of many such acts of vandalism at the palaeontological site.

Netizen ‘Francisco Suarez V.’ commented: “The Barranco de los Enamorados is like this, totally devastated.”

Social media user ‘punkyduro el rey de los bandidos’ wrote: “He doesn’t do it in front of me, because I’ll take care of carving my name into his back.”

And ‘Txelmin’ quipped: “He had to be Italian.”