Giraffe attacks mother and son.

Maybe I'm being a little harsh here, but I do wish humans would leave the wildlife to live peacefully in the few  areas that are left to them, which are dwindling away.

A story to day tells of a mother and her 3 year old son attacked by a mother giraffe.   I do feel genuinely sad for them, and I do hope they recover.   But I think these kinds of incidents are inevitable    when humans take over the natural home of wildlife.

"The wife and three-year-old son of a British wildlife scientist are in a critical condition in South Africa after they were trampled by a giraffe.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-times/mother-young-son-left-in-critical-condition-by-giraffe-attack/news-story/2bb230d30056114ccc83c80c2e3340c2

Mrs Williams, 35, and Finn were flown in two helicopters to Busamed Modderfontein Private Hospital in Johannesburg on Monday night after a medical team stabilised them at the Blyde Wildlife Estate, a residential development in Hoedspruit, where giraffe and antelope roam. The giraffe that attacked them as they waited on a track for Mr Williams to return from a run had given birth two months ago.

Mr Williams, a postdoctoral research fellow with an interest in African carnivores, viewed the incident as “an unfortunate act of nature” in which the giraffe saw his wife and son as a threat to her calf, the statement said.     

Plans are being made to move the giraffe and her calf from the estate, "

So the giraffe family has to move because of humans encroaching on their natural home.   

There's something wrong with the picture.

 

13 comments

I once had a girrafe stick its tongue in my ear? Does that count as an attack?

You are lucky it didnt go right through Adrianus. I reckon given the length of Giraffe tongues it should be regarded as a very friendly gesture. 

"I once had a girrafe stick its tongue in my ear" 

It probably thought your ears needed cleaning! Giraffes use their tongues to clean their ears and noses.

 

Image result for giraffe cleaning its nose with its tongue

With the world's population increasing, wild life habitats are being reduced, and proximity of people and wildlife is growing.

This can lead to more confrontations such as the one above.

It's sad but inevitable.

 

Yes I read this article when it first appeared in the media, they thought that the animal was protecting it's young, then the husband of the injured came home to resque his family. Very sad.

I agree with you Darcy, but I don't think it will ever change.  I guess we should be grateful the Giraffe family was just moved and not killed.

It would be nice if we could learn to get along with the wildlife but we can't even get along with each other so what chance do the poor animals have against us.

These people have actually built an estate in a wildlife reserve.

""

The family live on the Blyde Wildlife Estate at a home just 150 yards from where the attack happened in a purposely built secure gated nature reserve with 154 properties.

It boasts a clubhouse, tennis courts, gym and a restaurant and bar open to all residents.""

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/british-scientist-says-his-son-three-has-suffered-a-traumatic-brain-injury-and-is-in-a-coma-while-his-wife-recovers-after-they-were-trampled-by-a-giraffe-as-he-reveals-the-animal-will-be-saved/ar-BBN0Wh9?ocid=spartanntp

Madness!

I'm pretty conservative in most of my views, but when it comes to the lack of respect for any and all animal and  wildlife, I'm on the side of the animals.  

I wish the family well.   The mother is in a stable condition, but the little boy not so well.  

 

 

 

They must have had permission to do that if it is a whole Estate.    The money is not plentiful in the African bush, I would guess in that part of the world needs funding, so this would help finance the Rangers and their families to care for the animals.

Money is so free flowing in other aspects around the world we forget that these parks need funding as do the Rangers, caring for these Rangers who have families have to be funded, their children need clothing and food too.  I guess it is a happy medium to support the wild life parks.

I don't have a clue how much it costs for a Ranger to support and educate their families, the schools in Africa are basic.  But they do need to be educated, one off sets the other I would have thought.

Found this below on salaries and life styles.

https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job=Park_Ranger/Salary   https://www.equaltimes.org/poachers-outgun-africa-s?lang=en#.W5MclPZuJZQ

https://www.news24.com/Travel/A-peek-into-a-Rangers-Diary-20120528

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/17/poaching-wildlife-africa-conservation-women-barbee-zimbabwe-elephant-rhino Africa’s new elite force: women gunning for poachers and fighting for a better life

Abused and disadvantaged mothers and daughters are being honed into a squad of sharpshooters to save wildlife in the Zambezi valley

Shares 10,662   Pinterest Akashinga: The Brave Ones

The black metal of the AR-15 rifle has worn silvery and shiny in parts after years of use. More manageable than an AK-47 in close-quarter combat, the weapon is precise enough to bring down an enemy target at 500 metres. Used for decades by anti-poaching units throughout Africa, today this gun is not carried by a typical swaggering male field ranger; this one is cradled securely and proficiently by Vimbai Kumire. “This job is not meant just for men,” she says, “but for everyone who is fit and strong.”

Kumire is a 32-year-old single mother whose husband ran off with a younger woman while she was pregnant with her second child. She is practising setting up an ambush in the early morning in Zimbabwe’s lower Zambezi Valley, nestling deep into the green undergrowth like a dappled shadow.

All female anti-poaching combat unit - in pictures  

This is Africa’s poaching frontline, and these are not just regular female game rangers. If the team behind Kumire’s new job have anything to do with it, these women are a growing squad of environmental shock troops for a new type of community development offensive.

According to conservation biologist Victor Muposhi of Chinhoyi University of Technology, the lower Zambezi Valley has lost 11,000 elephants in the past 10 years. But he believes that hiring and training female rangers such as Kumire directly from the local communities is a game-changer.

“Developing conservation skills in communities creates more than just jobs,” says Professor Muposhi. “It makes local people directly benefit from the preservation of wildlife.” And that, he says, can save not only landmark species such as elephants but entire ecosystems.

 

 

Giraffes don't usually attack humans unless they feel threatened and I think there is more to this story. Some people don't follow the rules and don't show these animals the respect they deserve. A few years ago my wife and I spent two nights at the Giraffe Lodge in Nairobi and it was the most incredible experience. I've never heard of any incidents at this sanctuary.

Image result for giraffe lodgeImage result for giraffe lodge

Image result for giraffe lodge

It looks so tranquil.

That's on our bucket list Banjo!

Celia,

How do you post links? I tried copy and paste, but was unsuccessful.

LJ I had forgotten, so excuse my ''unlive'' links.

In case Celia doesn't see your query:

Once you've copied and pasted the link, highlight it, and the link chain above will light up.   Using the address bar in the little window insert the URL.

darcy,

Thank you :)

From Darcy’s link above, see here.

'Katy and I are are both very aware of how wild animals behave and how we should behave around them. We also realise with all the knowledge that anyone can have, that wild wild animal remain unpredictable as this tragic event has once again shown'.

Conservation biologist Dr Williams, 36, had been out for his evening run in the hills at the 394 hectare reserve which is home to giraffe, antelope, wildebeest, hippo and crocodiles. Mrs Williams, who is also a scientist, had taken Finn out to see her dad return from his run as she often did when they spooked the female giraffe who lashed out to protect her young baby.

She was trampled underfoot along with her young son and both would almost certainly have been killed had her husband not stumbled onto the scene as he returned from his trail run.

Mr Williams said in a press statement that he regarded the incident as an 'unfortunate act of nature' where the giraffe saw his wife and son as a threat to her young one.

These people are animal conservation professionals and accept the incident as a tragic accident of nature. No idea why others can’t.

My very best wishes to Mrs Williams and Finn and the giraffe and her baby as well.

As for developments in natural areas and species extinction … sadly Australia is the 4th worst in the world. Perhaps we should think about our own backyard first.

Chart: ABC News. Source: The International Union for Conservation of Nature.

I have nothing but admiration for the zoos, institutions, conservation organisations and individuals who try to stem the human tide of destruction.

Well RnR, I'm pleased my post has generated some discussion.   I'm not entirely closed minded, and have learned some things of interest of which I was unaware.  

I don't think it's necessary to lecture those who approach the subject from a different point of view.

 

Thank you RnR for this information, so very sobering.  We humans can be unspeakable.

Like others, I also wish Mrs. Williams and her son Fin a quick recovery.

As a citizen of Australia and a migrant from South Africa, this should never have happened as both adults are well educated in their fields and should have known better. However I feel very sad for the family and hope the outcome is better than expected.  What's even sadder is the fact from my understanding it sounds like mother and son may be in a government run hospital....God forbid! I hope the husband has them moved to a private hospital ASAP. I don't make that statement lightly and still have very close ties to medical profession and health institutions. Mankind needs to realise, wild animals like humans will fight to the death to protect their young in any situation. I pray this family receives the best assistance possible and both mother and son recover quickly. 

I've always thought it best to not hve a pet giraffe.

Can't see the point of most of the comments to date.

Why would a supposed 'expert' leave his family in such a situation?

Strange.

I hope they are ok despite the stupidity of the American idiot. I feel sorry for the child having such a dingbat for a mother. She is irresponsible and put her child in danger. Scientist my foot.

Re: Advertisement...Don’t know the name of the place but think it’s in Canberra, where people are eating dinner or lounging about in bed or on the sofa and on the other side of what seems like a see through one way glassed wall we see a lion and at other times a bear or a tiger....

Anyway the place strikes me as being an incredibly artificial and strange accommodation arrangement for humans to view wild animals.

And have often wondered if there’s a plan B should the glass break...

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