What is hanging off of this giraffe?

• by horkusone

  I am curious as to what those dark hanging things are on this one. At first glance they seem to look like odd udders but they are also on the side of the body. Does anyone know what they are? ASG000bbmp

  Posted January 16, 2013 2:50 AM

• by wilderzone moderator

  Believe or not, they're birds. Red-billed oxpeckers. They mainly eat ticks off large animals, so really they're doing the giraffe a favor.

  Posted January 16, 2013 3:53 AM

• by horkusone

  Oh wow! I was really not expecting that answer! Haha. Ok. Thank you for clearing that up. 😃

  Posted January 16, 2013 9:17 PM

• by MGHogue

  Thanks, wilderzone - I find that most interesting. Being as this is a night shot, I can't help but chuckle and wonder if the birds were roosting for the night! LOL!

  Posted January 17, 2013 3:35 AM

• by DeborahV

  Thanks for clarifying. I got this picture yesterday I think and was so busy trying to figure out exactly what the giraffe had in his um private area that I completely missed the ones on his side. I was thinking perhaps he had used the facilities and was wet or it was a female nursing...I've learned so very much from this project!

  Posted January 18, 2013 3:16 AM