Stampede

A stampede (/stæmˈpiːd/)[1] is a situation in which a group of large animals suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened.

Cowboys developed techniques to deal with this situation and calm the cattle, to stop the stampede and regain control of their herd.

[5][6] To further reduce the risk of stampedes, cowboys sometimes sing or whistle to calm the herds disquieted by nightfall.

[2] Those on watch at night avoid doing things which could startle the herd and even distance themselves before dismounting a horse or lighting a match.

[7] Sometimes humans purposefully induce cattle to stampede as a component of warfare or hunting,[citation needed] such as some Native Americans, who were known to provoke American bison herds to stampede off a buffalo jump for hunting purposes, and harvest the animals after they are killed or incapacitated by the fall.

[8] Stampede is not only an incorrect term, it is a loaded word, as it assigns blame to the victims for behaving in an irrational, self-destructive, unthinking and uncaring manner, it's pure ignorance, and laziness [...] It gives the impression that it was a mindless crowd only caring about themselves, and they were prepared to crush people.

Such incidents have become more common in modern times, as improvements in global transportation allow people to gather in large numbers more easily.