Most people celebrating their 40th anniversary might opt for a cruise or a beach getaway—but for South African couple Marius and Michelle Nortje, nothing beats a trip to the wild. Their love story, already four decades strong, was about to take an unforgettable turn deep inside Kruger National Park. What started as a routine drive turned into a moment the couple—and soon the internet—would never forget. “We go at least once a year, but sometimes as much as four times,” Marius said in an interview with The Citizen.
The Encounter on the Gravel Road
During their anniversary trip this past December, something extraordinary emerged from the bush: three giraffes. One of them was unlike anything Marius, a seasoned wildlife photographer, had ever seen before.
“We couldn’t find [the lions] on the tar road and turned off on a gravel road when we first saw one and then two giraffes emerging from the bush. When the third of the herd became visible, we saw strange growths all over her body,” he recalled.
Acting quickly, Marius captured the giraffe on camera and later shared the images on Facebook, where they immediately stirred both curiosity and concern. “People wondered if she was in pain,” he said. “However, she was grazing peacefully, and it didn’t seem to bother her, although it appeared painful.”
In an effort to raise awareness, he tagged the South African National Parks (SANParks) in his post, though at the time of the interview, he had not yet received an official response.
Identifying a Rare Condition
The giraffe’s photos gained even more traction after being picked up by WorldWide Vets, an international animal welfare organization. According to Dr. Gemma Campling, the founder and director of the organization, the giraffe is suffering from a condition caused by the papillomavirus.
“There are many types of papillomavirus, each affecting a specific species. However, the cow variation (Bovine Papillomavirus or BPV) is believed to affect this giraffe,” Dr. Campling explained.
She noted that the virus is typically spread through direct contact—in this specific case, likely via oxpecker birds. “In this instance, it is assumed that oxpecker birds, landing on the giraffe and pecking at their naturally occurring parasites, spread the disease from one animal to the other. In this case, the whole herd is normal apart from this one animal, as was the case when this disease had been spotted previously.”
Prognosis and Wildlife Monitoring
While the disease looks shocking, experts state that it isn’t necessarily deadly. “Many cases of BPV are self-limiting and can heal with the animal recovering completely,” Dr. Campling said. “There is no treatment for this disease in giraffes, and wildlife vets closely monitor the situation. Thankfully, this version cannot be passed on to people, although the Human Papilloma Virus occurs in humans.”
However, Gemma Campling added a sobering note: ”Whilst it is not a life-threatening disease, it no doubt causes discomfort when the lumps become as advanced as this.”
It is difficult to determine exactly how much pain the giraffe was experiencing, but the sight was heartbreaking for many. Despite the visible and extensive lumps, the animal was calmly grazing, seemingly unaffected by her condition at that moment. Nonetheless, the images touched thousands of people online, sparking a wave of empathy, wonder, and curiosity.
A Reminder of Nature’s Resilience
For Marius and Michelle, the encounter served as a powerful reminder of why they continue to return to the wilderness year after year. Sometimes, the most unforgettable moments occur when you aren’t looking for them. It takes the lens of a devoted nature lover to remind the world just how resilient—and yet how vulnerable—wildlife can truly be.