The bull took advantage of his friendship with the impala to steal its hair and use it in his nest. An interesting moment was recorded by a ranger at a private nature reserve in South Africa.

An oxpecker steals an impala’s hair to make a nest – Photo: Reproduction/ND

Cameron Schmidt, 29, works as an assistant ranger at the Pumbaa Private Game Reserve. He was watching a cheetah in the distance when he spotted a bull on top of an impala. He told his story to the portal LatestSightings.com.

“It appears the bull was collecting material for the impala’s nests. Typically, bulls and impalas have a symbiotic relationship from which they both benefit. However, in this case it seemed slightly parasitic, as the impala was losing its fur for no apparent benefit. Unless, of course, it falls in the summer, which could mean the bird is actually helping,” Schmidt said.

He said he had never seen anything like it in his ten years of experience as a tour guide. “Moments like this are really educational. It’s not always about the Big Five; Sometimes it’s these small, unprecedented interactions in nature that leave us in awe,” he said.

Schmidt was accompanied by six guests who also witnessed the ox’s fascinating behavior. He said he researched the topic and found that bulls often use a variety of materials for their nests, including hair from different animals.

“This sighting is a testament to the always amazing nature of wildlife and a reminder that there is always something new to learn in the bush,” Schmidt said.

The photo shows the okpecker with a mouth full of impala hair. The video shows the bird pulling out hair with its beak and then flying away.

Watch the video of an okpeker stealing hair from an impala: