By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2025-03-05 02:14:19 | Updated at 2025-03-05 18:44:58
16 hours ago
Giraffes always stand out in a crowd.
A Michigan taxidermist transporting a stuffed giraffe in his pick-up truck on a busy road alarmed motorists who spotted the exotic animal’s long neck eerily hunched over in the vehicle’s bed.
Pictures of the creature went viral and sparked concern, with many questioning if the animal was real, criticizing anyone who would hunt a giraffe and joking that the African hoofed mammal was the Toys-R-Us mascot.
“My buddy was on his way home from work and saw what appears to be a real deceased giraffe in the bed of someone’s truck,” the initial poster wrote on Facebook on Feb. 27.
“Does anyone know anything about this? Is it even real lol.”
The public clamor resulted in Darren Wehner, a taxidermist and big game hunter, setting the record straight.
Wehner, who works at St. Clair Flats Taxidermy, said he was commissioned by an unnamed museum to preserve and mount the giraffe, which died naturally of old age at a zoo, FOX 2 reported.
He said he was 60 hours into the project when he was seen cruising with the man-made replica in Macomb County.
“My job is to preserve them so you can appreciate them forever,” Wehner told the outlet.
“Some people may find it strange or different, but to me, it’s art. When we receive it, it’s no different than leather. It’s just leather with hair on it.”
He later shared progress photos on Facebook, with many praising his craftsmanship.
“Awesome job!! Looks so realistic!” one comment read.
“Thanks for solving that mystery!! Really had people thinking Giraffe(s) were being hunted in Michigan.”
