The Real Story Behind Prominent Photos Of Giraffe With Odd Looking Skin

Aug 25, 2020

This giraffe from South Africa's Kruger National Park caused people to think he was turning into a tree with his strange, textured skin. However, it turns out the skin was a side effect of a common virus that giraffes get from birds that pick bugs off of their skin. 

We all know the world is filled with these natural wonders. But on some occasions, we are treated to a sight that is truly exceptional. 

The sight can be something as awe-inspiring as an ant moving a pile many times its size or a ferocious-looking dog befriending a tiny kitten.

Regardless of the source, a natural wonder is a treat to encounter.

People who visited South Africa's Kruger National Park saw something truly exceptional recently. A giraffe at the park appeared to be turning into a tree.

The giraffe's neck was covered with bumps that appeared to be tree bark. In fact, the giraffe suffered from lesions on his neck. The lesions are a result of papillomavirus.

The virus mostly affects members of the animal kingdom and causes nasty-looking lesions to form on their bodies. Fortunately, however, the virus is no threat to the life of the animal. 

Giraffes become infected with the virus through bites from birds known as oxpeckers. These birds pick at the skin of giraffes in order to eat ticks that are on the animal.

While the disease is not in itself deadly, the lesions can cause serious complications. When the giraffe scratches the lesions to find relief from the itching, the chance of infection occurs. 

According to Daily Mail, Helen Olive is a resident of Oxfordshire. She has worked snapping photos of animals in the wild for the last 15 years. Helen says she was unsure what to make of the giraffe when she first encountered the animal. But she soon realized the giraffe suffered from some sort of virus.

Strains of papillomavirus are also been found in chimpanzees, rabbits, and humans. Each strain is specifically developed for the species it affects. The virus behaves differently in each animal but the common denominator is it is not deadly. 

Giraffes are indigenous to the continent of Africa and are the tallest mammals on earth. It is estimated that 30,000 giraffes live in South Africa alone.

The size of the animal in the video and the presence of the lesions on its body combined to give the appearance the giraffe was turning into a moving tree. Were you amazed by this picture? Pass it along to all the animal lovers you know to see what they think!