Most couples celebrating their 40th anniversary might choose a luxury cruise or a relaxing beach escape — but for South African pair Marius and Michelle Nortje, nothing compares to the call of the wild.
After four decades together, their love story was about to take a deeply emotional turn amid the untamed beauty of Kruger National Park.
What began as an ordinary drive soon turned into a moment that would leave the couple — and later, the internet — in awe.
“We go at least once a year, but sometimes as much as four times,” Marius told The Citizen.
During their anniversary trip this past December, something remarkable appeared from the dense bush: three giraffes. But one of them was unlike anything Marius — a seasoned wildlife photographer — had ever encountered.
“We couldn’t find [the lions] on the tar road and turned off on a gravel road when we first saw one and then two giraffes emerging from the bush. When the third of the herd became visible, we saw strange growths all over her body,” he recalled.
Reacting instinctively, Marius lifted his camera and captured the extraordinary sight. Later, he shared the photos on Facebook — and the images quickly spread, sparking a mix of fascination and concern.
“People wondered if she was in pain,” he said. “However, she was grazing peacefully, and it didn’t seem to bother her, although it appeared painful.”
He tagged South African National Parks (SANParks) in his post to raise awareness, but as of the time of the interview, he had yet to receive a response.
A rare condition revealed
The story reached an even wider audience when the images were picked up by WorldWide Vets, an international animal welfare organization. According to Dr. Gemna Campling, the group’s founder and director, the giraffe was suffering from a condition caused by papillomavirus.
“There are many types of papillomavirus, each affecting a specific species. However, the cow variation (Bovine Papillomavirus or BPV) is believed to affect this giraffe,” Dr. Campling explained.
She added that the virus spreads through direct contact — likely through oxpecker birds, which often perch on large animals.
“In this instance, it is assumed that oxpecker birds, landing on the giraffe and pecking at their naturally occurring parasites, spread the disease from one animal to the other. In this case, the whole herd is normal apart from this one animal, as was the case when this disease had been spotted previously.”
Though the giraffe’s condition looked alarming, it wasn’t fatal.
“Many cases of BPV are self-limiting and can heal with the animal recovering completely,” Dr. Campling said. “There is no treatment for this disease in giraffes, and wildlife vets closely monitor the situation. Thankfully, this version cannot be passed on to people, although the Human Papilloma Virus occurs in humans.”
However, Dr. Campling added: “Whilst it is not a life threatening disease, it no doubt causes discomfort when the lumps become as advanced as this.”
It’s impossible to know how much pain the giraffe felt, but imagining her living with such a condition is undeniably heartbreaking. Despite the growths covering her body, she stood gracefully in the African sun, grazing calmly — a quiet symbol of resilience.
The images struck a deep emotional chord online, inspiring thousands to express compassion, sadness, and awe at the strength of nature’s creatures.
For Marius and Michelle Nortje, the encounter became a powerful reminder of why they return to the wild year after year.
Sometimes, the most unforgettable experiences happen when you least expect them — and sometimes, it takes the eye of a devoted nature lover to show the world how profoundly beautiful and fragile wildlife truly is.
