The Dark Side of Shoebill Chicks | Africa | BBC Earth

The rivalry between two shoebill chicks becomes apparent when their mother leaves to fetch water.

Taken from Africa.

[BolingBros]

These things look like they belong in the dark crystal

[Korijenkins]

"Only her firstborn will get to drink"


Immediately spills all the water in front of it.

[Cybo-]

The thing that freaks me out is that they all look like animated statues. “Animatronics” also works.

[pedrosantos-cggo]

0:45 its crazy how they can maintain their heads so steady it looks like a matrix error

[TheWoodWithin]

"The smaller chick seeks its mother's comfort, but she has already made her choice"
😭😭😭

[Trazyn_the_Infinite_K]

"Humans are so cruel"

Shoebill: allow us to introduce ourselves.

[Mail-man_admirer]

Me: I had such a bad childhood
Shoebill: join the club kid

[dagthewog]

These birds have always looked like human souls trapped in birds' bodies. They look like they hold the secret to hell but are not permitted to speak.

[matthewnelson]

"In this house, we raise winners!"
- That mom.

[sugardaddy]

Mom: "What have you done to your brother?"
Chick: "I tried to murder him so I could have more food"
Mom: *Sobs* "My beautiful, strong boy..."

[ConorGillespie]

the way its head stays completely still as its body moves is so cool

[yusra]

That permanent smile on their faces with dead look in their eyes creeps me out.

[johnpen]

When you have a bad day and just want to cheer yourself up with some animals and then National Geographic gives you a mental breakdown...

[archangel]

"There is also a smaller chick, who isn't doing so well..."

Welp, now we know where this is going... :|

[ImBae]

I did not expect to get my heart broken like this!

[nosoyporta]

**Shoebills Reveals darkside**

*Me:* **looks at it**

Yeah i'm not surprised

[undertakerjj]

this feels like an even sadder version of the ugly duckling🙃

[nathanramirez]

Why these birds looking like the animatronics from Chuck E. Cheese

[ElephantInTheRoom]

I worked with Ostriches. Equally brutal. They are always getting rid of the weakest. Pulling out the feathers of the weak one. Ganging up in the weak one. The weak ones die from depression and trauma. They start doing this to each-other as chicks and continue into adulthood. Humans have this ability as well.

[kimdawcatgirl]

If I was a shoebill cameraman, I'd have a house full of rejected baby shoebills!