Giraffe with 'Dramatically Crooked Neck', Who Was Feared Dead, Photographed Thriving 6 Years After Last Sighting

Wonkito is back, and the wild giraffe is looking stronger than ever.

According to Philip J. Briggs, a conservationist and nature photographer, Wonkito is a wild giraffe with a "dramatically crooked neck" living in Kenya. In an August 12 Instagram post, Briggs explained first encountering the animal in 2019.

"Back in 2019, one giraffe captured our disbelief with his dramatically crooked neck. Whether the result of scoliosis or a youthful injury, his condition seemed so severe that we doubted he would survive in this harsh environment," Briggs shared.

The conservationist added that the giraffe was given the name Wonkito, "after another legendary survivor from the same Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya: Loonkiito, the oldest wild lion ever recorded."

After photographing the giraffe in 2019, Briggs feared the animal would die in the wild due to whatever issue caused the bends in Wonkito's neck. And until recently, it appears Briggs assumed the animal had perished, because he was pleasantly surprised when he spotted Wonkito again, six years after their initial meet-up.

"Fast forward six years, and against all odds, he has appeared again, healthier and stronger than ever," Briggs wrote on social media alongside his recent photos of Wonkito.

It seemed to the photographer that not only was Wonkito surviving, he was thriving out in the wild.

"His coat has deepened into the rich, dark hue often seen in older male giraffes. Far from being hindered by his irregular neck, he has sired multiple offspring, living proof that he is thriving in this landscape," Briggs wrote, adding that the giraffe also managed to survive a "gruelling drought" that affected the Amboseli ecosystem in Kenya in 2022, a natural disaster that claimed the lives of many wild animals.

"Like his namesake, Wonkiito has defied every expectation."

Briggs attributed Wonkito's success in the world not only to the giraffe's perseverance but to the power of conservation.

"His survival is a testament to Amboseli's conservation success, built on coexistence between wildlife and the Maasai people. Across much of Africa, giraffe numbers are declining, but here they remain stable thanks to strong protection and community collaboration," Briggs noted, explicitly citing the Big Life Foundation's vital work.

Briggs concluded his upbeat post about Wonkito's success with a message of strength and a new nickname for the notable giraffe.

"Back in 2019, I wrote: 'You can bend me, but you cannot break me!' Today, that statement feels truer than ever. He truly still is the 'Kink of the Jungle.'"

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