Photos of a giraffe in the bed of a pickup truck near Detroit caused a sensation online, piquing widespread interest. The images, shared across social media platforms, depicted an unusual sight in Macomb County.
Nathan Schemansky shared the photographs, taken by a friend, on Facebook. The Macomb County Scanner page subsequently amplified the post, leading to its rapid spread. The driver of the truck was identified as Darren Wehner, who works at St. Clair Flats Taxidermy.
Wehner, a professional taxidermist and occasional big game hunter, explained that the giraffe had died of natural causes at a zoo. He had been commissioned to preserve the animal for a museum exhibit.
“My job is to preserve them so you can appreciate them forever. Some people may find it strange or different, but to me, it’s art,” Wehner told FOX 2 Detroit. He indicated he was about 60 hours into the preservation process when the need arose to transport the specimen. “When we receive it, it’s no different than leather. It’s just leather with hair on it.”
