Evolution and survival, against the laws of nature; An animal that never drinks water!

We have all heard since childhood that water is vital for the survival of all living things on earth and no living thing can survive without it; But nature always has a way to surprise us. In the burning plains of East Africa lives a mammal that seems to have ignored this seemingly immutable law. The name of this mammal is “Gerenuk”; A delicate creature with an amazing appearance, also known as “giraffe gazelle” and “giraffe neck”. (My Modern Met)

Photographer: kyslynskyy / Depositphotos

A special subspecies of antelope, the gernok has a body precisely engineered to withstand the hellish heat and dryness of its habitat. The name “Grenok” means “necked giraffe” in the Somali language; An accurate nickname that is completely understandable by looking at their very elongated necks. According to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), these adorable gazelles may have smaller heads than other goats and gazelles; But their eyes and ears are bigger. Like other mountain goats, their body coat is two-tone brown and they have similar scent glands to determine territory.

Photographer: photogallet / Depositphotos

More interesting than the strange appearance of Grenooks is their unique eating style. These animals not only have long necks, but also do amazing things to get food. Grenooks stand on their hind legs and sometimes use their front legs to pull down inaccessible branches. This clever technique allows them to reach heights that would be a dream for most herbivores of their size. It is estimated that the diet of these gazelles includes about 80 different plant species that are selected with special obsession.

Photographer: SURZet / Depositphotos

The chosen diet is the key to the mystery of life without water for them. Grenooks love to chew fleshy plants or “succulents” more than anything else. These plants are known for storing large amounts of water in their leaves and stems. In fact, the Gernoks have cleverly bypassed the entire evolution system. They get all the moisture their body needs directly from food and they don’t need to look for springs or rivers like other animals. However, even this amazing feature could not keep them completely safe.

Photographer: kyslynskyy / Depositphotos

Unfortunately, the special species of Gernok is facing serious threats, the most important of which is the loss of habitat and the fragmentation of their habitat. As the human population grows and settlements encroach on the virgin lands, the Gernoks face great challenges in finding safe shelter and food sources. The statistics are alarming; The African Wildlife Foundation says there are now less than 100,000 of these creatures left. More painfully, they have lost about a quarter of their population in the last 14 years. If things continue like this, these beautiful giraffe necks will soon be in a red and vulnerable state. Without serious protection, we may sacrifice one of the masterpieces of evolution to human development.

Photographer: kyslynskyy / Depositphotos

Which species do you think has the strangest survival ability among animals? Write your opinion for us and other users.

Cover photo source: National Geographic Photographer: Unknown