Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) has been forced to explain the disturbing pictures of a giraffe covered in bumps.
The picture of a giraffe covered in bumps are doing rounds on social media with residents claiming that the pictures were taken at Laikipia National Reserve.
Following these allegations, KWS came out on Tuesday to give a statement distancing itself from those pictures.
According to KWS, these pictures were not taken in Kenya.
“We wish to state that this photograph doing rounds on social media does not originate from Kenya as many have been led to believe. The picture was taken in Kruger National Park, South Africa. The giraffe is allegedly afflicted by a condition brought about by the Papilloma Virus. We, however, would like to thank you all for your notifications and concern,” wrote KWS on their official Facebook page.
The pictures of the giraffe surfaced way back in 2016 having originated from South Africa.
One of the tour guides, Liaan Lategan has spoken to The Daily Mail stating that virus is spread from one giraffe to another by oxpecker birds that feed on them.
However, he also noted that there is a vaccine that can be used to treat this disease.