Giraffe Contest

By Rebecca Drew

HILARIOUS images have captured two male giraffes tying themselves up in knots as they fight over mating rights.

The series of pictures show the flexible 2,600-pound males ducking and diving their heads as they try to outwit the other in their bid to mate with a bemused female. One image shows an 18-foot-tall giraffe fold its neck over his rival to capture it in a headlock.

In another image, one of the pair stares directly at the camera whilst preparing to deliver another powerful blow to its opponent.

The spectacular shots were taken by German wildlife photographer, Ingo Arndt when he visited the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya with his wife Silke Arndt.

On his website, Ingo explains how he wants to make his audience aware of nature by portraying animals and showing people where they live.

“I want to show them the magnificence of nature,” said Ingo.

As the tallest animals in the world, male giraffes are usually calm creatures but are known to wrestle using their necks, known as ‘necking’ to warn off competition during mating season to show strength and dominance.