About the Author

Guy Brunskill

Alumni Ranger

Guy worked as a ranger for Londolozi from 2017 until the end of 2021. He grew up in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. From a young age he visited the bush each holiday. It was during these early years that his passion and interest was ...

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10 Comments

on Giraffes Defend Dead Calf From Hyena Clan

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Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

Wow! Incredible video footage. Amazing sighting and interaction between the animals.

Sue Dickinson
Explorer

What an incredible event! I would never have believed this giraffe behaviour!

Cyndy Beardsley
Digital Ranger

Wow! What a story and the photos and videos are amazing. Thank you.

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

Amazing capture Guy! Who would have guessed that the giraffes would return to the remains of the calf, seemingly to protect it. Just when we think we have figured out animal behavior, something like this occurs. I love these posts as I learn something new most days!

Chelsea Allard
Master Tracker

Wow! Is there any evidence as to how the giraffe died? I’m curious if it died naturally of it’s injury or if it was killed because it was an easy target due to the broken leg. I suspect the latter, but would love to hear your thoughts.

Callum Evans
Guest contributor

That is incredible!! I know that giraffe mothers will defend their calves with ferocity, but for a whole journey to come to the defence of a dead calf is amazing! Definitely something unique!

Joanne Wadsworth Kelley
Master Tracker

Large or small, a broken leg for a giraffe can only lead to the inevitable doom. One wonders why the group of giraffes didn’t approach the young one earlier. Perhaps an instinctive knowing that nothing could be done? Wildlife leave so many unanswered questions for us to ponder. In some small way it’s a portion of the intrigue. But standing and scattering the foe over a obvious loss signals, to me at least, that last moment of honor…then life moves on.

Jill Larone
Explorer

Incredible video Guy! Do you know how the calf broke his leg? It must have been a very interesting sighting!

Malavika Gupta
Senior Digital Ranger

What a sighting, Guy. The last point you make about the strength in numbers ties in well with an earlier blog. Your fellow ranger wrote about buffalos and empathy. If anyone doubted the possible of animals being empathetic, your video and blog have removed all.

Wendy Hawkins
Senior Digital Ranger

Wow what an an amazing & tragic sighting that was Guy! I also didn’t know that giraffes would do that, but those hyenas were not giving up – circle of life can be harsh!

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