Giraffe dies after 'hitting its head on motorway bridge'

ADVERTISEMENT

A young giraffe died after hitting its head on a motorway bridge, according to an animal welfare charity.

The accident happened as two giraffes were travelling behind a lorry on a motorway in Pretoria, South Africa, reported AFP news agency.

Rick Allan, local manager for the society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA) in South Africa, said: “Two giraffes were being transported by road. One of them had an accident. We don’t know exactly what happened but we were told it hit its head against a bridge.”

Allan added the young giraffe – who would have had its eyes covered during the transit – died from head injuries. The other giraffe was not injured.

He said the SPCA had begun an investigation into the incident and could bring a complaint against the animal’s owners.

The giraffe’s death is seemingly a case of fiction becoming reality. The American comedy film, The Hangover Part III, has a similar scene.

Pictures later began circulating on the internet of the giraffes prior to the accident:

#Giraffe transported in trailer dies 'after hitting head on motorway bridge' http://t.co/3HoSNyZrb3 #AnimalRights pic.twitter.com/0DRW1XpedH

— Amr Heikal (@Heikal_Amr) July 31, 2014

Took this pic on the N1 earlier.Just heard one Giraffe passed away! Apparently due to head trauma! So sad! Radio702</a> <a href="http://t.co/RNCMdALgl3">pic.twitter.com/RNCMdALgl3</a></p>&mdash; Wingate Road Runners (wingaterunners) July 31, 2014

Quand la fiction devient réalité RT “Le_Figaro</a>: Une girafe meurt après avoir percuté un pont <a href="http://t.co/0C04jZj02e">http://t.co/0C04jZj02e</a> <a href="http://t.co/mspFOuFmwr">pic.twitter.com/mspFOuFmwr</a>”</p>&mdash; ◀Dj IzO▶ (TheRealDjIzo) August 1, 2014