Don't Mess With a Giraffe

Think that Giraffes are the one of most gentle and peaceful species in the animal kingdom? Think again. As three Lithuanian students found out, Giraffes are not to be messed with, especially after you've had a few beers.

A 22 year old student was attacked after drunkenly climbing into a Giraffe's cage at a zoo on May 7^th in Vilnius, Lithuania. Apparently the three students thought it would be a funny prank to climb into the cage and hang out with the 1.3 ton animal. The Giraffe, however, had something much different in mind. The nine year old mammal, named Solut, attacked the 22 year old student breaking her collar bone and nose before she was finally able to get away from the enraged best. Her two friends remained unharmed throughout the attack as she suffered the brunt of Solut's rage. Zookeepers reported that the girl actually got off easy, as the animal could have easily stomped her to death with its massive hooves. It is reported that many of the animals in the zoo were already disturbed that night due to a loud partying group of students nearby. It is quite likely that the Giraffe felt its privacy was bothered long before the three twenty-something's entered into its cage.

The question that is really on deck, besides the obvious, is how the students got into the zoo and then managed to scathe a 10 foot high fence to even get into the Giraffe cage. A police investigation on that issue is now underway.

There are two lessons that we can learn from this event. The first is that even the most passive of animals will retaliate when they feel as if their privacy or wellbeing has been threatened by a trespasser. It doesn't matter if the animal is a turtle, a giraffe, or a grizzly bear, they don't want to feel as if they are in immanent danger and they will attack if they feel pressured. After all, you would do the same if you felt threatened in your home. Lucky for the students involved in this incident it did not turn out nearly as bad as it could have. We all do stupid things after a few drinks and this one is pretty high up on the list. But hey, at least she didn't hop in the lion cage.

The other lesson we can all learn from this? Don't go to the zoo when you're drunk.

Refer to these two website for the actual news stories on this incident.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18562479/?GT1=9951

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007284672