South African giraffe dies after ‘head hits bridge’

PHUKET: South Africa’s animal rights body is investigating the death of a giraffe that reportedly struck its head on a bridge while being transported along a motorway.

Eyewitnesses say the giraffe, one of two on a truck, hit its head on a bridge on Johannesburg’s N1 motorway, reports the BBC.

The vehicle then broke down and the driver had to wait several hours for it to be repaired, said the report (click here).

Both animals were then taken to a vet, but the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (NSPCA) reported that one of the giraffes died on arrival.

Thinus Botha tweeted that he was driving behind the truck when the animal struck its head on Garsfontein Bridge.

There was “lots of blood”, he tweeted (click here).

Rick Allen of the NSPCA confirmed that the giraffe had sustained a head injury but said that an autopsy was necessary to determine the cause of death.

Mr Allen said the animals were being transported to a game farm in Warmbarths, about 160km outside Johannesburg.