While most couples celebrate their 40th anniversary with a beach getaway, South Africans Marius and Michelle Nortje chose the wild — and it led to an unforgettable encounter.
The longtime lovers were driving through Kruger National Park, a place they visit often, when something unusual stepped out of the bush: three giraffes. One of them, however, looked nothing like the others.
“She had strange lumps all over her body,” Marius, a wildlife photographer, recalled. Acting quickly, he snapped a photo and shared it on Facebook. The images sparked immediate concern and curiosity online.
Experts later confirmed the giraffe was suffering from a rare skin disease caused by papillomavirus — likely spread by oxpecker birds. Though not life-threatening, the condition can be uncomfortable, especially when the growths are severe.
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Despite her appearance, the giraffe seemed calm and was peacefully grazing. Still, the moment moved thousands who saw the photos — a stark reminder of the beauty and fragility of life in the wild.
For Marius and Michelle, it was the kind of memory that no fancy resort could ever offer — one that shows how powerful and unexpected nature can be.
