I've recently had reason to wonder at seemingly unorthodox usage of singular and plural forms for animals. A friend of mine is currently living in Kenya, helping run a nature reserve there.
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This thought occurs : in some languages -and in some instances - plurals are not used. Perhaps that is the case with your friend in Kenya.
In Hawaiian it is lei for the floral necklace, whether it is one or 21!
And here in New England we have moose. Lots of moose.