r/interesting • u/zaitaikun • 1d ago
Just Wow A traditional technique used by young shepherds of Ethiopia's Banna tribe. They use stilts to watch over their livestock in tall grass, move through wetland areas, and avoid snakes and predators like lions and leopards. It requires strength, balance, and training from a young age
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u/ubermoth 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's a kids game turned tourist attraction.
It's a money making trend that started within the last 10 or so years. There is zero mention of stilt walking in any of the academic(or even touristy) works about this region. The tourist sources that do mention stilt walking are either honest
Or get basic facts about them wrong.
There are traditions of stilt walking in Africa, i.e. the Dogon in Mali, but not here.
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u/mouse9001 1d ago
Are you trying to tell me the video lied to us? Even when it was playing the Lion King music in the background?
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u/Alarmed_Drop7162 23h ago
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u/Longlivetheking61 17h ago
Not Lion king music. It’s a song by Daniel Deuschle called Enduring Hope
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u/funny_redditusername 23h ago
Lion: “Oh, no they are 6’ up in the air on wobbly sticks guess I can get them now” 🤷🏼
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u/SordidSimpleton 15h ago
The more skillful stilt walkers can balance on one stilt while using the other to whack the lion in the ribs while saying 'Go on kittycat!! Git!!'
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u/ciongduopppytrllbv 21h ago
It a 2 month old account with 400k karma. You’re telling me a bot lied?
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u/Novel-Geologist2461 23h ago
I was wondering how these things stop a lion. They don't.
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u/letthetreeburn 20h ago
This is fake but it’s because predators aren’t mindless hateful killing machines. Every time they’re sizing up prey they’re considering how hungry they are versus how much energy would this thing take to kill versus how much energy would this give me.
How does waving your arms around and screaming at a coyote “stop” a coyote? It doesn’t, but you make yourself seem like more trouble than you’re worth.
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u/Ostrichslinger 20h ago
I feel insane for being the only one thinking this is something you should obviously be skeptical of.
Fucking tribal stilt walking over long distances to avoid predators?
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u/johan851 20h ago
Used to live near there, ain't nobody walking around like this. And while the paint is a traditional thing, it's definitely not an everyday thing either.
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u/donald7773 23h ago
I also love how I always see "it takes training and balance" like any kid can't figure out stilts in 10 minutes
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u/NotReallyJohnDoe 19h ago
also stilts don’t require a lifetime of training to master. A few hours maybe.
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u/Boho_goth 19h ago
Thank you for sharing this article. I really enjoyed those pictures and learning about them. 😊
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u/gothreepwood101 1d ago
Cant the lion just push them over? like a carnival game where the lions get to eat the prize afterwards.?
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u/Traditional-Buy-2205 1d ago edited 1d ago
Contrary to the popular belief people get from video games or movies like Jurassic Park, wild animals don't just go after people on sight all the time for the sole purpose of killing them and damaging their property, and they don't lead campaigns against them.
Predators typically don't waste their energy on bad odds and unfamiliar prey.
A weird tall figure with wooden legs is not really the lion's natural prey.
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u/Any-Dragonfruit8363 1d ago
lions be like:
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u/MistraloysiusMithrax 1d ago
Yes like the recommendation for bears in the US is to raise your arms up, even holding something up higher if you can, walking sticks, random long sticks, because many animals don’t have the same quality vision we have and rely on height as an estimate of how massive the other creature they’re seeing is. So this is exactly how I imagine lions reacting, the closest concept they have to tall but skinny is probably giraffes which are still actually massive so they think these tall boys are elephant levels of deadly.
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u/Level21DungeonMaster 1d ago
This makes a lot of sense. An unfamiliar creature like this would be really something to avoid. Especially if you really don’t understand its physiology. Most animals can run; these appear to just be walking. If they could use their wooden legs like real legs that would devastate a lion.
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u/MistraloysiusMithrax 23h ago
Others have pointed out that people who believe this is a thing and people who are calling this out on for tourists/social media are both right. There are groups who traditionally do stilt-walking for safety, this group is not one of them but started doing it about 10 years ago for tourists.
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u/Traditional-Buy-2205 23h ago
started doing it about 10 years ago for tourists.
There's no shortage of people faking tradition for tourists.
One has to be careful when travelling and do their research.
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u/Level21DungeonMaster 23h ago
I had a National Geographic magazine from the 60s that depicted people doing this idk what this particular footage is but it just looks like kids having fun to me.
We could probably find people on stilts in NYC who are painting murals and tell everyone they wear them to avoid being swarmed by rats.
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u/Ready_Studio2392 21h ago
Deep in the depths of a traditional New York skyrise, the furtive drywaller is witnessed tending to his craft of smoothly applying a thin paste simply known as mud. The drywaller quickly moves along on stilts, no motion wasted, for his very food depends on how efficiently and how quickly he can apply this lackluster mud to this abode.
The drywallers time is so rushed in fact, that this next shot shows him quickly peeing into a bottle of bud-light, before he safely stores it away for future generations to find deep inside the crevice of a wall on the 16th floor.
You can also witness the natural grace of the drywaller, as he deftly navigates around piles of trash left behind by another furtive species known as drywallers. Indeed, without the stilts, the drywall may find himself mired in an endless tangled mess of wire clippings and shredded Romex.
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u/MistraloysiusMithrax 23h ago
Not believable, rats can still get to you from ledges. Rats aren’t afraid of your stilts
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u/LaughingLuxy_ 23h ago
This is actually neat though, a lot of stuff done for tourists isn't ethical (usually mistreatment of animals). But performance art of their culture is pretty rad. It keeps their traditions alive as well as helps them generate capital
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u/MrSnrub87 23h ago
That was the point, this isn't their tradition, they borrowed it from another group from another part of Africa to make money from tourists. They just started doing this less than 15 years ago. It's like making a phony french quarter in Kansas and trying to start a Mardi Gras parade
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u/_a_reddit_account_ 1d ago
This reminds me of that scene in one of the newer Jurassic movies, where a dinosaur attempts to gobble up a guy as they were both running from a volcanic eruption. Utter nonsense.
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u/No-Membership-5314 1d ago
It really depends on if the lions have access to peanuts. I’ve heard People Satay is one of their favorite meals.
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u/orixandcrake 1d ago
An important point of the original Jurassic Park (and the books) is that the dinos are very much not wild animals. They're what and how Dr Wu thought they should be, coupled with the fact that they're all raised in captivity which also messes with their behaviour.
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u/Traditional-Buy-2205 23h ago
They still wouldn't just go after humans and chase them across an entire island with a vendetta.
But anyway, it's a dinosaur movie, best not to analyze it too much and use some suspension of disbelief.
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u/PrestigeMaster 1d ago
Except for mountain lions lately i guess.
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u/Due-Marionberry-5642 1d ago
Exactly. Most wild animals would rather avoid people than risk getting injured over something they dont even recognize as prey.
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u/Sad_Bug_3769 1d ago
so they don't wonder how would that prey taste like?
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u/Strange_Specialist4 1d ago
An injury can cripple a lion, prevent them from hunting, and they die. Most animals don't mess with unfamiliar prey unless they're already starving because it's not worth the risk
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u/Kaszrak 1d ago
"Avoiding Lions" was prob meant more in the sense of spotting them from a distance. A lion will absolutely get you off them sticks if the stomach is empty.
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u/PaperDistribution 1d ago edited 1d ago
You are assuming from the Lions perspective it's "humans on sticks" and not multiple weird giant figures walking near it. I'm willing to bet the vast majority of lions wouldn't risk getting injured and just leave.
There is a reason why a common defense mechanism of animals against predators is making themselves look bigger.
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u/Kaszrak 1d ago
In a pride, Lions literally attack Giraffes, even elephants, lol. Thats like 30-40 lions in some places. I don't think the silhouette-safari-vehicle trick works in that case.
Plus, they can distinguish humans by smell. I bet on it tbh.
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u/PaperDistribution 1d ago edited 1d ago
Well lions know giraffes and elephants, they know how they behave and and they know the risks and rewards.
Giraffes and elephants also aren't known for cooperating in groups like humans do... Thats kinda our whole thing, those tribes live there since forever, I'm sure they know what works and what doesn't.
I'm sure they probably do their best to avoid massive prides, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have killed plenty of lions in their time there.
Lions also already aren't know for attacking normal sized humans, so them smelling that weird creature, they already don't like interacting with, and then see giant figures walking around would probably just spook them more.
Edit: The Reddit app was acting weird ony side, I hope it just posted the comment properly now...
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u/Kaszrak 23h ago
Well, yeah... Humans and lions have been co-evolving on the savanna for hundreds of thousands of years, to the point where lions have a deeply hardwired, evolutionary recognition of us. They know exactly who we are, and they know we are bad news... BUT!
In East Africa, wild lions can distinguish between different groups of humans. For example, they are supposedly highly sensitive to the distinct red clothing and scent of Maasai herders, who actively hunt or deter lions to protect their cattle, and will completely ghost the area if they spot or smell them. Meanwhile, they couldn't care less about tourists or researchers in khaki and are not scared at all.
There was a landmark study on this where researchers played different sounds to wild animals in the savanna. You’d think the sound of a roaring predator or a gunshot would make them bolt the fastest. Nope. They fled significantly faster and more frequently when they heard the sound of calm human voices just having a regular conversation. Our casual gossip is literally the ultimate jumpscare to the animal kingdom.
That study was done in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park, and like 95% of the species tested, including elephants, rhinos, leopards, and giraffes, fled faster or abandoned waterholes completely when they heard a human voice compared to a lion's roar. A lion's roar just means a competitor is nearby, and a gunshot is just a loud noise. But a human voice apparently signals the presence of the hyper intelligent, tool using endurance hunter that has spent millennia wiping out their ancestors. We are not just Apex predators, we are literally the boogyman on this planet. Context matters though, as I mentioned above. Not every human is automatically a bogyman, like Maasai herders.
I am just regurgitating stuff i've read btw.
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u/Cultural-Company282 21h ago
Giraffes and elephants also aren't known for cooperating in groups like humans do...
Sounds like you need to do a little more reading about elephants. It's pretty astounding how much an elephant herd cooperates in groups. They are absolutely known for it.
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u/SatisfactionActive86 22h ago
i am sorry, but what? lmao if i put a treat on top of the coffee table, my cat doesn’t try to eat the table legs. cats understand “thing on top of thing”
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u/Golden-Grams 1d ago
That's how I took the meaning, too. They would have better visibility, and see a lion stalking them from much farther away. Lions are not built for long-distances, so they would be less motivated to give chase.
They would probably stop stalking, and wait for another opportunity.
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u/Cultural-Company282 22h ago
The lion doesn't even have to push them over. Look up how high a lion can jump, and prepare to be amazed.
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u/geslaagde 1d ago
They should spike the lower part of the sticks as a defence mechanism
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u/NoGarage7989 1d ago
The small surface area of the pointy end would probably be harder to balance, and it’ll wear down anyway
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u/cynoIogy 1d ago
they said the lower area below them, not the end of the stick that is in contact with the ground
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u/Milf_Hunter_1989 1d ago
Im glad you asked that question as I was thinking this myself. What is stopping a lion or another predator from attacking the stilts ?
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u/pleasetrimyourpubes 1d ago
This is just something the kids do for fun. Their tribe became famous for it and ingrained it into their culture. 2000 years ago if a kid was doing this they would be told to get down and help the hunt etc.
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u/Unique-Coffee5087 1d ago
French stilt walking shepherds
https://www.amusingplanet.com/2017/08/the-stilt-walking-shepherds-of-landes.html?m=1
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u/ElderberryPrior27648 1d ago
There’s folks here saying how they’re not sure how this stops lions. And folks explaining why it does.
Is no one confused how they’re able to “move through wetland areas” on stilts? That sounds impossible
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u/Cultural-Company282 21h ago
There’s folks here saying how they’re not sure how this stops lions. And folks explaining why it does.
The people "explaining" are talking out their asses, though, because the thing about them using stilts to avoid lions is made up. I imagine the part about wading through wetlands is equally made up, since stilts would be about the least practical method available for that.
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u/Nearby_Structure_274 1d ago
It becomes really natural after doing it for a while, just like a way walking. We had stilts for kids and I became really obsessed with it for a summer and would genuinely walk anywhere with them and always take them with me on trips. At some point I could walk up stairs and do very little jumps, granted I think it would be a bit different with silts as long as in the video, but it's possible
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u/Beautiful-Hangover-1 19h ago
Honest question, do you think it would be as easy on “wild” terrain? I could imagine that ground with occasional holes, puddles, uneven little hills, sometimes softer sometimes harder parts, etc. would require a lot more coordination in being precise about where you step and how. At least compared to streets and lawns.
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u/Nearby_Structure_274 15h ago
Oh for shure, muddy and soft ground like sand was really hard or sometimes impossible for me, but as long as the ground is hard it should be no problem. I also had really short stilts in comparison to these guys, I imagine that longer stilts need even more balancing and bring greater challenges. But muscle memory wise it's just like bike riding, once you have it down you don't think about it too much
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u/Beautiful-Hangover-1 19h ago
Honest question, do you think it would be as easy on “wild” terrain? I could imagine that ground with occasional holes, puddles, uneven little hills, sometimes softer sometimes harder parts, etc. would require a lot more coordination in being precise about where you step and how. At least compared to streets and lawns.
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u/NoOneFartsLikeGaston 23h ago
Imagine the dexterity to counter balance the wrecking ball sized testicles the person must have.
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u/xbhaskarx 1d ago
Funny how so many here are convinced that being on stilts “wouldn’t stop a lion” as if a lion would recognize a human on stilts as prey when they don’t care about humans sitting on top of cars.
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u/Superb-Mall3805 22h ago
People in Reddit comments just want to be mean and snarky, and to pretend to be smart
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u/Primary_Park_499 1d ago
I can see it helping with snakes, but I doubt stilts would stop a lion.
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u/Messi2655 1d ago
I mean, seems like if it’s tradition then maybe it has been effective enough i suppose lol
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u/Key_Anxiety_899 1d ago
I’ve yet so see a video of how they come down to rest. lol. I imagine they have to have a nice way down, but I can also imagine myself falling on my face lol 🤣 how do they come down????
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u/dunkin_dognuts_ 1d ago
Flying a drone around africans on stilts just trying to get by unscathed is diabolical.
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u/Dense_Surround3071 1d ago
. ... But the GIRAFFES!!! They in the other hand have very different opinions!
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u/NoExpression1030 1d ago
Doesn't cover predators. Everything else, yes.
Snakes, insects and other biting creatures are far common in those areas than we can think.
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u/Apart_Fudge1224 1d ago
I dunno, I can imagine pretty bit numbers of bugs and snakes. 1 quadrillion per square meter.
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u/GrooovyAlien 1d ago
So what do they do if a lion attacks their sheep and they are standing on stilts in tall grass?
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u/anotherasiankid 1d ago
From what I can see, the older ones are on longer stilts. Is there a reason for this? I recall there is an African tribe where the women get more neck bangles each birthday
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u/GregJamesDahlen 1d ago
wonder if they get more sunburned that way? (really asking, not trying to make some racist joke about black people and sunburn if that's controversial) I've definitely heard black people can get sunburned too
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u/ResourceSuspicious20 1d ago
I'm impressed they got on the stilts first try. If you offered me a million dollars I would never be able to do that.
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u/Zak_Rahman 1d ago
Ok, so one of those blokes has a zebra pattern on him.
Now as far as I have been lead to believe, the black and white stripes of a zebra help to keep it cool due to how heat and light interact with dark and light fibres.
Could the same principle be used for heat mitigation elsewhere?
Or is it just to look cool (which I also support)?
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u/HeliosRunner 23h ago
was used extensively for centuries in south west of France in "les landes" by people to guard sheep in tall grass etc. worked flawlessly. they even had dance contest with it. amazing skills.
also was used in a lot of other places...
once i talked to someone there who told me it could have been used at first to avoid snakes/ "bitting insects" in high grass and also to be able to spot big predators and such from long distances. also more easy to jump on the closest tree if you need to shelter from an attack...
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u/TypicalLegit 23h ago
Crazy how far behind that continent is in even basic technology. Like a different world
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u/imoanmodello 23h ago
I'm no African fauna expert but I feel like a lion or leopard could definitely just jump that high
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u/OneTrueKingOhh 23h ago
I'm pretty sure that if a lion or leopard wants, it can easily knock them down.
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u/terestentry 23h ago
Now I know how they get on, now, how do they get down? Do they need something like platform?
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u/Kamillahali 23h ago
someone should get them into pole vaulting, i feel like theyd be pretty good at it xD
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u/Hairy-Glove3261 22h ago
Thanks for including the running start. I have always wondered how they got on the stilts.
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u/Glum-Huckleberry-717 22h ago
If a lion has eaten a human before then they will still recognise one on stilts, they won't be fooled and they can jump that high easily.
This is fake/for tourists
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u/WrathOfWood 20h ago
Where is the livestock and why are they walking down the road instead of the tall grass and wetlands
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u/Strange_Pangolin_231 20h ago
That's super cool though. I know they need to do this for survival but it also looks fun.
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u/superbhole 20h ago
the way they saunter as if they're so bored they look like they're doing it with their eyes closed, but still maintaining balance atop 10 foot sticks... trippy
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u/punk_nasty 19h ago
This is actually how I approach the back of the dmv line so I know exactly how long ill be standing in line.
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u/test-phase 15h ago
In Germany they would need a driving license for that. Because of ,, safety reasons,,
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u/Rampag169 12h ago
Here I thought they were gonna have sales on giraffes and that’s how they got on them.
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u/Weirdo_Crusader 11h ago
This is rife for a Looney Tunes style mischief. Like the lion cutting the stilts with a saw.
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u/ConflictOfEvidence 1d ago
This is interesting but "It requires strength, balance, and training from a young age" is overselling it a bit. It's fairly easy to learn how to walk on stilts.
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u/honeyb0518 1d ago
Yeah but this is walking on stilts in lion territory. It's advanced
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u/Apart_Fudge1224 1d ago
First Time you try to get up and stumble, bam! Your lion lunch. Maybe your cousin will fare better.
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u/Minute-Caramel7032 1d ago
How do they get down from this? I have seen this elsewhere also. I have always been curious how do they get down from this? I also think, their feet might hurt a lot
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u/prestigious_assembly 1d ago
The conditioning to do that must be insane, OP, I'd be lion bait in five seconds
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