[新聞] 南非長頸鹿　為求偶用「功夫」對打

As the ferocious battle commenced one male lashed out, whacking his opponent with his long limb

細長的四肢和優雅的長頸使得長頸鹿可以成為世界上最高的動物。這樣的『身材』為它們取食樹葉或樹上的果實提供了很大的便利。但是，若兩隻長頸鹿對打，這樣的肢體卻是既不便又滑稽。

在非洲的叢林中，經常會出現兩隻公的長頸鹿為搶到跟一個母長頸鹿交配的權利而扭打的局面。英國攝影師本·科萊(Ben Coley)日前就在南非捕捉到了這樣一組畫面。

兩隻公長頸鹿一見面，一方就開始出擊，伸出長腿直擊另一隻鹿的頭部。而另一隻長頸鹿也不示弱，頸部彎曲快速閃過了這一襲擊，身體扭轉後成為攻擊方。最終，兩隻鹿打得纏到一起，不可開交。

憑藉高挑的身形和自身的力量，長頸鹿相對於其他的物種，有著很強攻擊力。但是兩隻長頸鹿打架卻是棋逢對手，優勢得不到發揮，長腿長頸反而更不易伸展利用，最後只得扭打到一起。

不過，報導指出，像是這種為求偶而進行的爭鬥，不具有危險性，不占優勢的一方會認輸離開，一般不會受傷。

Kung Fu fighting giraffes get in a twist battling it out in ferocious display of dominance

Pair captured clashing in South African bush by British photographer
First blow knocks bull across the face
Powerful beasts end up entwined as long necks and limbs get in muddle

Their statuesque legs and elegant necks make giraffes the world's tallest creatures.
Handy when reaching to browse the leaves and buds on the highest treetops, the animal's long limbs can prove a hindrance when engaging in a battle with a rival beast.
Ferocious bull giraffes are often spotted on the African plains, battling it out in a display of dominance to claim mating rights.

Cowering from the blow, the giraffe appears to stumble to regain his balance

These amazing stills capture the moment British photographer Ben Coley snapped a pair of males fighting in the South African bush, at the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve.

As they faced up, one of the impressive animals lashed out, whacking his opponent with his powerful limb.

In a bid to dodge the impact the other ducked, stumbling before swinging around and getting in a twist.

Swinging around, the giraffe ends up in a muddle, getting caught up with his opponent

These amazing stills capture the moment British photographer Ben Coley snapped a pair of males fighting in the South African bush, at the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve

Giraffes are capable of generating a huge amount of force and are able to knock an opponent to the ground with a single strike.

But in this instance the clumsy pair ended up entwined with one another.
Despite looking like a savage dual, contests such as these don't usually prove dangerous and end when one animal gives in and walks away.

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