WELCOME TO MY SHOEBILL SHRINE!
what are shoebill storks?
shoebill storks (balaeniceps rex) are large birds of the taxonomic order pelecaniformes! this makes them more related to pelicans,anhingas, gannets, etc. rather than storks.
these birds are named shoebill storks, because their bill (beak) is shaped like a shoe. shoebills can get up to 4 feet long, with their beaks at an average 9.4 inches. their habitat mostly consists of swamps, since they're mostly successful at hunting in aquatic places. shoebill storks are only found in the tropical side of africa :]
even though they look like dinosaurs out of nightmares, they're harmless to humans. for example; there's a shoebill stork named "Sushi" that bows. you can only pet him if you bow back!
here's a video of him :]
"why do you like shoebills? they're scary/cruel/soulless"
they may appear intimidating due to their size, their eyes, and the fact that they look
and sound like dinosaurs, but that doesn't make them cruel creatures we have to stay away from.
we find elephants and giraffes beautiful, and they've killed humans before, unlike shoebills.
(i dont have anything against elephants and giraffes just so u know, in fact i love elephants too :] !!)
as for the cruelty part, morality isn't really a thing we can apply to animals, so although it is heartbreaking
to see a weaker shoebill stork baby die from starvation and being ignored in favor of the stronger sibling, we
have to remember that these animals can't be put up to human standards. animals live in environments we'd easily die
in. survival and adaptability is above all in the wild, not only that but they don't have autonomy like we do, so
comparing animals to us is unfair since they'd be judged on things they haven't evolved to the same levels as us.
so yeah lets be kind to animals please #iheartanimals
suck my balls like a vaccuum baby
more shoebill pictures!
