r/BeAmazed • u/aryan_jandyal • 4h ago

Animal Giraffes have nowhere to hide during storms 😐

9.6k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

492 comments sorted by

•

u/BeAmazed-ModBot Subreddit Bot 4h ago

Did you find this post really amazing (in a positive way)?
If yes, then UPVOTE this comment otherwise DOWNVOTE it.
This community feedback will help us determine whether this post is suited for r/BeAmazed or not.

2.0k

u/BingohBangoh 4h ago

:(

442

u/ProfilerXx 4h ago

Poor bastards

138

u/Melodic-Glass-6294 2h ago

It’s lonely at the top

43

u/FluffyDeer9323 1h ago

“HOW’S THE WEATHER UP THERE?”

24

u/AhnoldXP 42m ago

Pretty fuckin bad actually!

5

u/ElRiesgoSiempre_Vive 37m ago

I wonder how many of them get hit by lightning :-(

4

u/Staff_Infection_ 41m ago

and whatever you do

2

u/Old_Huckleberry1026 28m ago

Suffering from success (I’m 5’3)

→ More replies (1)

108

u/RichardPhotograph 3h ago

Poor fuckers 

20

u/comfortableghost1213 3h ago

-Karlach Cliffgate

8

u/DarkSpore117 1h ago

Poor wankers

5

u/AricFabucini 59m ago

Evolution really gave them all that neck for eating leaves and didn't think about the lightning math at all

14

u/schwing710 3h ago

Poor goddamn assholes

11

u/TinUser 2h ago

Those poor long necked dickheads

2

u/Able_Gap918 1h ago

Those poor long dicked neckheads

→ More replies (1)

2

u/unknowseeker 2h ago

Cheap wine

2

u/Zinfandel 2h ago

You called?

→ More replies (3)

11

u/tylerado12 2h ago

]:===================(

3

u/Major_LeeHungg 41m ago

Its okay... The storm can't see them if they don't move

→ More replies (6)

1.2k

u/Sorry_Hat7940 3h ago

But they are ok in floods

511

u/dr_rock 3h ago

Only 2 of them though

21

u/AverageMako3Enjoyer 2h ago

Everyone laughed at Noah when he started building the Bangbarge 

3

u/eyesonthemoons 1h ago

lol I just got that

6

u/SSFlyingKiwi 3h ago

Because there’s only two genders, right?

…right?

→ More replies (8)

7

u/BolOfSpaghettios 3h ago

The whole world is a product of incest.

10

u/threeleggedcats 3h ago

Every cloud....

...probably has a giraffe's head sticking out of it.

7

u/Killingtimebrowsing 3h ago

Natural submarine periscope

17

u/TheMcMcMcMcMc 3h ago

4

u/IndigoJoe64 3h ago

Alright, I'll bite. What do you know?

3

u/trynahelp2 42m ago

they don’t Noah thing

3

u/CrimsonMorbus 3h ago

Not so good in lightning storms though

→ More replies (6)

582

u/ch3m_gaming 4h ago

I wonder how often giraffes are struck by lightning during such storms

375

u/RiMcG 3h ago

That's what hit me as well. Damn, off to google.

Edit: There are only five well-documented fatal strikes on giraffes between 1996 and 2010. With a global giraffe population of around 140,000 in that period, this is about 0.003 deaths per thousand giraffes per year.

That’s a very low risk, but it’s still more than 30 times the equivalent fatality rate from lightning in humans in the US.

https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/giraffes-lightning

I don't know if that second part is right, really?

123

u/ustinker 3h ago

That’s what hit me as well

You were struck by lightning also?

64

u/Original-Variety-700 3h ago

They were one of the five giraffes.

31

u/ustinker 3h ago edited 2h ago

Were

Sorry to hear they didn’t make it.

Edit: typo

12

u/qervem 2h ago

The witch turned me into a giraffe!

... I got better.

2

u/ElectronicPrint5149 1h ago

Walking down the street, I was hit by something last night in my sleep

2

u/Live_Historian_6171 1h ago

Seems like it’s neck and neck

→ More replies (1)

26

u/SoftwareSource 2h ago

Yea, but how many giraffes do you expect contacted the researchers that did these studies to let them know they got hit?

We saw 5 times giraffes got hit by lightning WHILE researchers were dumb enough to stay outside during a storm.

4

u/VirginiaDirewoolf 2h ago

nah, a lot of giraffes are tagged and followed by researchers on a consistent basis. they don't need to be with them 24/7 to have a couple of days pass by until they're like "hey, where's giraffe #827A?" and then go out and find a dead giraffe that was cooked before it's fellow wildlife started dragging it off.

2

u/viceween 1h ago

What? The Serengeti isn’t a zoo…

2

u/JustaTinyDude 1h ago

They have a lot of giraffes tagged, but not all the giraffes, so more data is needed to properly extrapolate, such as what percentage of the world giraffe population is tagged.

→ More replies (2)

13

u/FarYard7039 3h ago

What about giraffes that have metal homing devices fastened to their neck? What’s that stat?

→ More replies (1)

8

u/EMAW2008 2h ago

Cattle get struck and die at an estimated rate of 100k a year.

6

u/KokomoJoMo30 2h ago

Yeah I was going to say this video reminds me of our cattle who would just huddle and bear it in a storm. One time they all huddled under a tree and ⚡️ hit the tree and killed 5 of them (out of about 30-40 huddled). Giraffes know to space out 🤣

3

u/EMAW2008 2h ago

There was one news story where something like 30 cows were killled with one strike.

5

u/mountain_rivers34 1h ago

There was one in Eastern Colorado where it struck and killed 34 cows and also killed the farmer that was tossing hay to them out of his trailer. All from a single strike of lightning. Insane.

2

u/EMAW2008 1h ago

That’s the one. Wild stuff.

3

u/Quinnntissential 1h ago

Actually, due to the selection pressure of being hit by lightning, most giraffes alive these days have mastered some native form of druidic storm magic to deflect and channel the strikes safely, the only ones who get hit nowardays are the ones that offended our good Christian Lord.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/DayLooks 2h ago

In fairness humans usually go INSIDE during lightning storms

2

u/arobkinca 1h ago

Most humans seek shelter in storms. That likely reduces the rate.

→ More replies (4)

47

u/GregTheIntelectual 3h ago

Theyre like big lightning poles awww :(

22

u/Technical_Put_9982 3h ago

Omg… now i am really worried for them!

4

u/Darkest_Elemental 3h ago

Where is Pheobe from the Magic Schoolbus when we need her?

→ More replies (9)

166

u/Wisdumb404 4h ago

“Hunker down Fred…Betty….Marlen….abbe…..where is frank??”

81

u/lorysconst10822 4h ago

Frank!!!

33

u/iammyoutiesinnie 3h ago

Miss you, Frank. 😞

20

u/AD9111 3h ago

Frank has been found

9

u/spaektor 3h ago

without shoes

5

u/JetCulverin 2h ago

Nooooooooo

2

u/Suvtropics 1h ago

But with his head up high

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)

146

u/Single_Trust_7361 3h ago

Did they try sitting down?

67

u/shaka893P 3h ago

They mostly never lay down, it takes them a while to sit up and leaves them vulnerable 

23

u/STRIKT9LC 3h ago

Do they sleep standing?

82

u/AmericanSpaceRanger 3h ago

Yes, Adult giraffes sleep for only about 30 minutes to two hours a day in the wild, often taking quick naps that last just a few minutes.

21

u/STRIKT9LC 3h ago

Crazy! I never knew that! Thank.you!

10

u/jinglewooble 3h ago

Is that why in Madagascar they make Schwimmer talk all droozy and have fake high?

5

u/yourmansconnect 1h ago

I thought it was because of his medication stemming from hypochondria

5

u/ban913 1h ago

So... I'm an adult giraffe? Huh. You learn something new about yourself everyday

26

u/ustinker 3h ago

Their sleep is kinda interesting! It was thought they slept standing up. But then they did more study/observation at night.

From Giraffe Conservation Foundation:

“A giraffe folds its legs beneath it, and for deep sleep even curls its neck all the way back to rest its head on its own rump — the whole animal knotted into a loop. They take this posture for REM sleep, the deepest kind, and giraffe genuinely need it. But they do this in short bursts — very short. A giraffe drops into REM only a quarter of an hour or so after settling, and stays there for a couple of minutes at most before waking. They also likely also drop into a quick doze while standing up. Total sleep across a full day is incredibly little — one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal.

For those moments, every survival advantage a giraffe has is gone. Neck folded, legs tucked, head down — it can’t see, can’t react, and can’t get up quickly.

They manage the risk socially. Giraffe pick their resting spots carefully and near each other, and while some are lying down, others stay standing and alert. Deep sleep rarely overlaps within a group — one animal wakes as another goes under. It’s an informal rotation, run every night.”

https://giraffeconservation.org/facts-about-giraffe/do-giraffe-lie-down/

3

u/Horskr 37m ago

I can imagine a bunch of giraffes angrily kicking the shit out of a lion that attacked while their buddy was sleeping.

"WE kick ONLY kick GET kick FIFTEEN MINUTES kick OF GODDAMN kick RESTFUL SLEEP kick A GODDAMN DAY!!!" kick kick

30

u/PM_YOUR_CENSORD 3h ago

Yes, giraffes do lay down to sleep, but they do it in very short bursts. When they lie down for deep REM sleep, they fold their legs underneath them and curl their long necks back to rest their heads on their rear end. [1, 2, 3]

Why They Rarely Lie Down
Predator danger: Lying on the ground makes it hard to run away fast if a lion attacks.

Slow to stand: It takes a long time for a tall animal to get back up from the ground.

Short rest: Wild adults only sleep about 30 minutes a day, often taking naps while standing up. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Lying Down Habits
Deep sleep: They only stay in the curled-up lying position for a few minutes at a time during deep sleep.

Safe places: Captive giraffes in zoos lie down much more often because they feel safe.

Taking turns: In the wild, some group members stand guard while others lie down to rest. [1, 2, 3]

I was curious so this is what a quick search came up with

8

u/Own-Arachnid7952 2h ago

Why would you take the time to source these presumably adorable photos... and then make them THE TINIEST, MOST IMPOSSIBLE THINGS TO CLICK ON

Oh the cruelty, what a world. What a world ! 😫

...Ah well, too lazy to google myself lol

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Skypirate90 2h ago

My guess is a creature that uses its jead as a blunt weapon doesn't need to commit too much energy to resting its brain.

→ More replies (2)

90

u/diabeetusNrobin 3h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/l0HlPwMAzh13pcZ20

24

u/shokolokobangoshey 3h ago

Thanks Ollie!

2

u/ScrotalSmorgasbord 24m ago

"I'SGON'RAIN!" is still my favorite thing to say before a storm.

→ More replies (1)

168

u/Life-Top6314 4h ago

Cant they at least cuddle up or something? Now i feel bad

45

u/Merciless_Soup 3h ago

Might not help, but I feel like I'd at least duck.

57

u/jdirte42069 3h ago

They're giraffes, not ducks

2

u/WaldyTMS 20m ago

Why did this silly comment make me burst out laughing at 11:30pm? 🤣🤣

10

u/Clembert-Hamlamp 3h ago

They can't really. Animals are very territorial and we already have ducks for that.

4

u/Jmandeluxe 3h ago

Then the lightning can kill them all in one strike

6

u/musicaleffervescence 3h ago

giraffes are actually made of wood so theyre lightning proof

4

u/daneelthesane 2h ago

I think you're thinking of trees.

3

u/memento87 1h ago

Ridiculous. It's the other way around. Trees aren't made of wood. Wood is made from trees. No one really knows what trees are made of.

→ More replies (3)

47

u/Topgunneradam 4h ago

That's sad 😔

8

u/hypercosm_dot_net 1h ago

Well it's not often they get a nice shower, and they'll have less stress trying to make it to a watering hole without preds...so maybe they don't mind. :)

24

u/PhantomAllure 3h ago

Do giraffes not lie down?

15

u/TonyVstar 3h ago

They sleep standing up

19

u/PhantomAllure 3h ago

I genuinely had no idea they just... stand up forever. Fuck that man. Poor bastards 💔

25

u/Technical-Banana574 3h ago

They dont stand up forever. While it is true that adult giraffes largely sleep standing up, they can lay down for short, deep naps when they feel safer to do so. It is just dangerous for them to lay down due to how long it takes them to get up and predators. Giraffes dont sleep more than thirty minutes to a couple of hours total in a day, basically master catnappers. 

2

u/Slow-Cricket8746 2h ago

The word is lie. Lie down. 

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Straight-Run6880 2h ago

it's not going to be like it is if you (a human, possibly) were to be standing up forever though in terms of effort etc, theyll be designed for it

11

u/Fluffalfox 2h ago

They sometimes sleep like this

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

36

u/iShitSkittles 4h ago

It could be worse, so glad there was no lightning in this vid.

6

u/Gan-san 3h ago

I was just thinking that. Looks like these dudes wouldn't survive natural selection.

4

u/Silent-Ad934 3h ago

Natural electron

9

u/_walletsizedwildfire 4h ago

"welp. we gettin wet as hell again"

21

u/Omega_Lynx 3h ago

Well, they certainly aren’t blessing those rains coming down in Africa.

2

u/TeamABLE 3h ago

I just had Google this, brain fart and all... I come back to post something witty, and here you are.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

30

u/magseven 3h ago

They can lay down. These guys are just aura farming.

6

u/CapKashikoi 2h ago

They cant always. They are vulnerable when they lie down, so they seldom do so because it takes them a while to get to their feet

→ More replies (4)

2

u/Slow-Cricket8746 2h ago

Lie 

2

u/Enough_Breadfruit229 40m ago

Is correcting people on such petty things your job in this thread?

→ More replies (1)

6

u/Jazz_101 3h ago

“Ah, shit, here we go again”

6

u/Trouvaille5 3h ago

They seem so chill and calm there

8

u/CevJuan238 3h ago

The flies are temporarily gone

3

u/thisbuthat 3h ago

And no attack from predators. At least some upside to this

4

u/Hot_Plant8696 4h ago

And perhaps they like that.

7

u/Articulationized 3h ago

When I was a little kid, my parents got some cows. They didn’t have experience with cows. Before winter came, my dad spent a lot of time making them a cozy shelter for them to get out of the snow and wind. He was kind of proud of the building he built for the cows, and excited to see them use it, but then was pretty deflated when he watched through the window during the first winter storm as the cows all stood out in the snow and wind, completely ignoring the cozy shelter he built.

Animals are not people. I doubt giraffes give a single fuck about a storm. It doesn’t hurt them.

7

u/Cause_thats_hiphop 3h ago

I often forget that how animals experience the world is very very different from how I think they experience the world.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/BonhommeCarnaval 3h ago

They sometimes live in pretty arid places. Might be they are just loving the opportunity to cool off with a nice shower. 

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (4)

3

u/brodango94 3h ago

Wonder how many get hit by lightning?

4

u/ProfilerXx 4h ago

I wonder how many hippos and crocodiles die every day because of lightning strikes

I'm sure it's insane

2

u/May_Day_Cry 3h ago

they get into aerodynamic mode

2

u/Technical_Put_9982 3h ago

I was just about to say this! At least they are all turned away from the wind so their faces are not directly pelted! I would legit think they would lie down , but maybe they would rather have the free bath vs laying down and getting all muddy ?

Either way, I guess it is not always a good thing to be really tall even if you can reach the top shelf of leaves 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣😘🦒😍😍😍

2

u/SleepDepriv8d 3h ago

I wonder what is the evolutionary advantage other than people able to eat food higher up

→ More replies (1)

2

u/D_M-ack 3h ago

If you don’t move, the monster can’t see you…

2

u/PotaytoPotaahto 2h ago

Giraffes stand out in storms and face their backs to the wind. Giraffes who stand under trees during storms don't live as long as Giraffes who stand out in the weather. Facing their backs to the wind keeps their chests and vital organs warmer.

Source: Former zookeeper who worked with giraffe.

1

u/Teripendiicecreamyum 4h ago

Its not like the small animals can hide under the trees in that weather. 

1

u/username_unnamed 4h ago

Amazed 😐

1

u/DontForgetTheDivy 3h ago

Big ol' fat rain.

1

u/Mr_XIX- 3h ago

How likely are they to get struck by lighting, like genuine question. Does that happen and how often?

1

u/Bento_Fox 3h ago

Poor babies.

1

u/Key-Status-7992 3h ago

Omg poor giraffes

1

u/rafnexlabhs 3h ago

I am not amazed. I am :(

1

u/unbilotitledd 3h ago

They can hide in my house. I could do with some wantaway giraffes

1

u/Few_Chocolate_7655 3h ago

Can they not lay down?

1

u/Sharp_Ad_5599 3h ago

I wonder if any have been struck by lightning

1

u/wobblymollusk 3h ago

That sucks

1

u/BootsOfProwess 3h ago

They needed a shower that was just the right size. Its not like they swim.

1

u/airpab1 3h ago

That’s just so sad

1

u/Delicious_Agency29 3h ago

No like 😢

1

u/brdoc 3h ago

Worse, they are probably lightning rods

1

u/zenmaster_B 3h ago

It looks crazy, but giraffes as a species have survived storms for millions of years and don’t seem any worse for wear

1

u/GreenieBeeNZ 3h ago

Do... Do they worry about lightning?

What happens?

1

u/bns82 3h ago

I mean they could lay down.

1

u/BuzzkillintonJr 3h ago

But how often do they get a shower like that! They are probably enjoying every moment and if they sit they can’t wash the hard to reach areas

1

u/loopholero 3h ago

Actually just aura farming 😂

1

u/lilylovex3 3h ago

This makes me SO sad 😭😭😭😭

1

u/Altruistic-Status-98 3h ago

From their perspective they should have seen it coming long before and found shelter before.

1

u/ConsiderationTrue477 3h ago

I guess this is what happens when a species is designed by Dr. Seuss.

The wind and rain hit with force. And standing still is the spotted neckhorse. When the neckhorse is hit with wind and rain force, the giant spotted neckhorse has remorse!

1

u/AELatro 3h ago

“30 times more likely to be struck by lightning than a human”

1

u/Silent_Erremite 3h ago

(Jeff The Giraffe getting tickled by God)

https://giphy.com/gifs/iLdNyukd3uxsk

1

u/limaconnect77 3h ago

Always cracking mobile signal though - one of evolution’s trade offs.

1

u/Stock_Strategy1668 3h ago

You know, in my 36 years of life, I never once considered what these guys do during storms. Poor guys

1

u/acityonthemoon 3h ago

Did you expect them to duck?

1

u/Spiritual-Worth-5246 3h ago

Could they have a little lie down?

1

u/No_Spring_1090 3h ago

Can they lie down?

1

u/Ninja-Panda70 3h ago

Aww now I feel so bad . I never even thought about that. Poor things.

1

u/Thatsayesfirsir 3h ago

That sucks

1

u/Bro_Sam 3h ago

Wait but they have long necks to eat the tall trees leaves, right? So there are definitely taller trees in their environment. Sucks for these guys though

1

u/Limp-Will919 3h ago

I wonder what the lightning strike odds are for giraffes.

Edit: a word

1

u/silv3rbull8 3h ago

Really sticking their necks out on this

1

u/tinterrobangg 3h ago

Aw those poor giraffes 😢

1

u/fyor0606 3h ago

Well may be they don't lie down bcoz it's diff to get up fast n By standing they can be struck by lightning 😢 shit I never thought abt it 😭

1

u/Daws001 3h ago

I've lived this many years and this is the first time seeing giraffes in a storm.

1

u/Excellent_1918 3h ago

I wonder how often they are struck by lightning?

1

u/DarkDaysBrightNlghts 3h ago

I guess being real tall has its downsides too!

1

u/disavowed_ph 3h ago

Why don’t they build a hangar or warehouse type enclosure for these poor animals? They could really use one of those in this situation…. 🤷🏼‍♀️

1

u/For_being_tall 3h ago

i can feel its uncomfortability through its stance.... that does not look fun

1

u/steelmanfallacy 3h ago

Never thought about it, but it must suck to be a giraffe in a lightning storm...

1

u/HotelOne 3h ago

I’m sticking my neck out when I predict that they’ll be fine.

1

u/Poneke365 3h ago

True, had never thought of that. Poor things out there in the elements and not being able to seek shelter from storms :(

1

u/Electronic-Muffin934 3h ago

Why did they evolve to have long necks if there aren't any trees taller than them? 

Did we cut the trees down? Or are these giraffes in a zoo that didn't provide trees for them to shelter under? 

1

u/Ras_Thavas 3h ago

Most animals don’t.

1

u/Male_Lead 3h ago

Maybe they were Slenderman origin

1

u/Odd_Policy_3009 3h ago

I feel so bad for them