The photographer was stunned by this giraffe before the heartbreaking truth was exposed
Nothing compares to a journey to the wild for South African couple Marius and Michelle Nortje, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary. Most people might choose a beach vacation or a cruise. Deep within Kruger National Park, their already four-decade-old love story was about to take an extraordinary turn.
What began as an ordinary journey became a memorable experience for the couple and, shortly after, the internet. Marius stated in an interview with The Citizen, “We go at least once a year, but sometimes as much as four times.”
However, something remarkable came out of the jungle during their December anniversary trip: three giraffes. Marius, an experienced wildlife photographer, had never seen one like that. “We turned off on a gravel road after seeing one and then two giraffes coming out of the bush because we couldn’t find [the lions] on the tar road.” We noticed odd growths all over the third of the herd’s body when she came into view,” he recalled. Marius acted swiftly, filming the giraffe and posting the pictures to Facebook, where they immediately sparked interest and worry.
He remarked, “People questioned whether she was in pain.” “But even though it looked painful, she was grazing calmly and didn’t seem to mind.”
In an effort to increase awareness, he also tagged the South African National Parks (SANParks) in his post; however, at the time of the interview, he had not heard back.
After being featured by the global animal welfare group WorldWide Vets, the giraffe’s images became even more popular. The organization’s founder and director, Dr. Gemna Campling, claims that the giraffe has a papillomavirus-related illness.
Each of the numerous HPV kinds affects a certain species. But this giraffe is thought to be afflicted by the cow form of the virus, known as bovine papillomavirus, or BPV, Dr. Campling clarified. According to her, the virus is transmitted by direct contact, most likely through oxpecker birds in this instance.
In this case, it is thought that the disease was transferred from one species to another by oxpecker birds landing on the giraffe and pecking at its normally existent parasites. As was the case when this sickness was first discovered, the entire herd is normal in this instance but for this one animal.
Despite its startling appearance, the illness is not fatal. According to Dr. Campling, “a lot of BPV cases are self-limiting and can heal with the animal recovering completely.” Wildlife veterinarians keep a careful eye on the condition because there is no cure for this sickness in giraffes. Fortunately, although though individuals can contract the Human Papilloma Virus, this strain cannot be transmitted to others.
But according to Gemma Camping, “even though it is not a fatal illness, it certainly causes discomfort when the lumps get this bad.”
It’s difficult to determine the precise level of discomfort the giraffe was experiencing, but it’s devastating to consider that she must endure this. She appeared to be unaffected by her condition, as she was grazing contentedly despite the obvious lumps. Nevertheless, many of others were moved by the images, which sparked a surge of empathy, awe, and curiosity.
It served as a potent reminder to Marius and Michelle of the reasons behind their frequent trips back into the woods. The greatest memorable moments can occasionally be found when you least expect them. And occasionally, the world needs to be reminded of how resilient—and vulnerable—wildlife can be through the eyes of one passionate nature lover.
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