Smokin’ bones: Photo of giraffe ‘getting high’ creates joy, then confusion

Move over Joe Camel, there's a new smokin' even-toed ungulate in town. Except this cool calf ain't puffin' on a "jazz cigarette" - and what a surprise twist when internet users realized what was really in its mouth.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms."
-Henry David Thoreau "Walden: Or, Life in the Woods"

The clue to the giraffe’s true oral delight lies in Thoreau’s classic text.

Danish wildlife photographer and wildlife biologist Mogen Trolle captured the well-timed photo, which, upon first inspection, looks like the giraffe is smoking a "joint".

The picture was taken at the Mkhuze Game Reserve in South Africa and although it looks like the giraffe is trying to get higher than it’s ever been before, it is actually just gnawing on a bone and sucking "out all the marrow of life."

"The giraffe, despite chewing on the bone for extract minerals, looked distinctly like it was puffing on a cigarette," Trolle told The Mirror.

"I love situations like that where the animals look funny and aren't necessarily exhibiting everyday behavior," he added.

Other animals have been seen smoking actual cigarettes, including this magpie having a drag.

This chimpanzee at Tianshan Zoo in Xinjiang, China was also caught enjoying a social smoke.

This video posted to Facebook in August 2015 shows a cardinal bird with its eyes closed, apparently stoned, having smoked marijuana.

The footage sparked criticism online with many accusing the two of animal abuse.

READ MORE: 'Angry Bird' gets stoned after 2 men force it to smoke weed (VIDEO)