Transporting Giraffes Can Be as Peculiar and Hazardous as It Appears

The idea of transporting ruminants is at the forefront of my thoughts due to The Algorithm presenting me with a video of a giraffe being moved upright in a trailer, with its head towering about 20 feet above the road. After the initial amusement subsided, a sense of curiosity emerged. What precisely was unfolding? Why was there a giraffe in a trailer? Where were they transporting it? And is this method even secure for the giraffe? Thankfully, the internet provides answers, and it appears that this mode of conveyance is quite prevalent—and as flawed as it may seem.

Guidelines for moving giraffes seem to differ somewhat by nation, but they all have one commonality: The distinct trailer. From California to Canada, the Netherlands, and South Africa, all utilize elevated trailers with at least partially open roofs to transfer the animals while they’re upright. The process isn’t as straightforward as guiding the giraffe inside and hitting the road, as explained by the Dutch Royal Burgers’ Zoo.

Initially, the giraffe must undergo a health assessment and have a positive behavioral track record to ensure safe handling. It’s also uncommon to transport adult giraffes due to their stature, with the danger increasing alongside their elongated necks. Loading is complicated by those same long necks; sedating a giraffe, letting it collapse, and then hoisting it onto a lengthy trailer with straps like an oversized, living ATV is not an option. Furthermore, their height means that sedation can jeopardize the giraffe’s life if it loses consciousness while standing—the fall from that height could be disastrous. (When sedation is necessary, it’s typically done against an inclined ramp.)

Instead, the Dutch lead the giraffe down a narrow corridor directly onto a trailer using a forklift. The trailer is equipped with hay and water for the giraffe’s well-being, with its roof opening once the animal is secured inside. The subsequent process appears to be no more complex than driving around with a horse trailer, with the reminder that giraffes are much taller than horses always in mind.

In a different case like the one in South Africa in 2014, if this awareness is lacking, consequences can be dire. NPR reported on an incident where a giraffe collided with an overpass during transport, resulting in instant fatality. The fate of the negligent driver remains undisclosed, underscoring that even the finest solution in such scenarios is not infallible. Sometimes, there’s simply no substitute for caution and correctness—especially when the life of a magnificent, albeit awkward, creature is at stake. Over to you, Ze Frank.

Have a suggestion or query for the writer? You can contact them here: james@thedrive.com