Giraffe dies after head strikes bridge

iAfrica ^ | 8-1-2014 | Zunaid Ismael

[Citizen Zed]

The NSPCA is considering laying charges against the truck driver responsible for transporting the giraffe that died on Thursday.

The giraffe, which was one of two being transported, died after it reportedly hit its head against a bridge on the N1 in Centurion. The truck also reportedly broke down after the giraffe hit its head and it was unable to receive any treatment.

"At this stage we are still investigating and considering charges in terms of the Animal Protection Act," Tshwane NSPCA managing director Rick Allan said in a Sapa report.

Allan said that the giraffe's death could have been avoided.

[Citizen Zed]

[Drew68]

Here's video of the incident:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS3KzwmU8Tg

[dfwgator]

Allan said that the giraffe's death could have been avoided.

[fwdude]

Okay, this was just incompetent. And an animal died needlessly because of this incompetence. There needs to be consequences.

[discostu]

Guess Hangover 3 hasn’t gotten to Africa yet.

[dfwgator]

I thought it was standard before hauling to look up the lowest clearance for any bridges along the route.

[Moltke]

That kind of roadkill will feed a family of six for months.

[dfwgator]

“We believe the method in which the animal was transported was not correct.”

Gee, ya think?

[smokingfrog]

How do you say “duck!” in giraffe?

[dfwgator]

Guess, they'll just have to make 'em smaller.

[DannyTN]

They didn’t see that coming.

[Gay State Conservative]

Very sad indeed.One of the most moving moments of my life was having seen giraffes (in the wild) in Tanzania a number of years ago.”Majestic” doesn't even begin to explain their presence in the distance.I'm approaching the twilight of my life but one last trip to East Africa is on my bucket list.

[DannyTN]

Apparently South Africa actually has regulations on how Giraffes are supposed to be transported. The have to be upright, and the heads are to be covered by a special crate like container.

[Alex Murphy]

And that's why God made it rain for forty days and forty nights - to avoid hurting the giraffes.

[Ken H]

I thought it was standard before hauling to look up the lowest clearance for any bridges along the route.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say they failed to do that.

[Vigilanteman]

Maybe they could send him to the Copenhagen Zoo for lion chow.

[lacrew]

This happened to a football fan in Kansas a few years ago.

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/4697296.html

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

The truck also reportedly broke down after the giraffe hit its head and it was unable to receive any treatment.

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Would someone please beat the reporter’s head against a bridge?

[dfwgator]

The truck also reportedly broke down

Dang that truck must have taken it very hard.

[plain talk]

They probably did that just fine.. for the truck but er forgot to include the giraffes into their calculations.