The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is currently investigating the death of a young giraffe along a South African highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Reports revealed that the young giraffe suffered from head injuries, which might have been sustained after knocking its head on an overhead bridge.

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SPCA spokesman Rick Allan disclosed that two giraffes were blindfolded and placed at the back of an open truck. One of the animals died along the said highway while the other was confirmed to be alive and fit.

Accountable parties will face criminal charges if breach of protocol on proper transport of animal or maltreatment is proved by the investigating committee.

"Our investigations so far showed that the transport used was inadequate and incorrect," Allan shared.

"There are lots of projectiles flying around on the highway [and] especially leaving an animal with its heard sticking out blindfolded, is looking for problems," the spokesman added.

However, issues concerning the demise of the young giraffe remain unanswered as investigation is still ongoing.

At present, findings from a veterinarian, who determined that the young giraffe "had died to head injuries", are the only evidence available.

"We are not quite sure what happened, but we got unconfirmed reports that it hit its head on a bridge," Allan said.

One of the witnesses, Pabi Moloi, a TV and radio presenter in South Africa, claimed that she saw one of the animals "hit its head hard on the concrete."

"The sound was so loud that my cousin, who was driving, asked me if there was someone shooting because she thought she'd heard a gunshot," the witness described in an interview after the incident.

To support the veracity of her testimony, Moloi showed the photographs she took of the giraffes while being transported.

No information revealed where the animals were being transported from, as well as regarding where these were to be delivered.

TagsSociety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, South Africa, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Rick Allan, Head injury, Pabi Moloi