Viral Photo of Giraffe in Pickup Reveals Taxidermy Journey
A photograph of a giraffe being transported in the back of a pickup truck near Detroit has captured the attention of social media users. The image, widely shared online, shows the long-necked animal secured in the truck bed, leading many to question its presence there.
However, the giraffe was already deceased. According to reports, the animal died of old age. It was being transported for taxidermy purposes.
The Macomb County Scanner Facebook page initially shared the photo, which quickly went viral. Many users commented on the unusual sight.
Some commenters joked about the situation, while others expressed curiosity about the giraffe’s ultimate fate.
Darren Wehner, who works for St. Clair Flats Taxidermy in Algonac, Michigan, confirmed to WJBK-TV in Detroit that he obtained the giraffe. Wehner, a big-game hunter with safari partnerships, explained that he was commissioned to create a giraffe mount for a natural history museum. “My job is to preserve them so you can appreciate them forever,” Wehner told WJBK-TV.
The unusual transport of the giraffe highlights the sometimes-unseen processes behind museum exhibits and taxidermy practices.
