Giraffe

Giraffe

The giraffe lives in the African savannah. The open woodlands and grasslands of East Africa, particularly in Uganda, Sudan and Kenya, are home to the Rothschild Giraffe. There are nine subspecies of giraffe, and all have a characteristic walk, moving the legs on the same side of the body simultaneously.

Giraffes are nearly 2 metres in height when born and males can reach a height of more than 5 metres when fully grown. Excellent eyesight and a good sense of hearing are features of all giraffe subspecies. An animal can see a human that is standing 2km away. When it is alarmed it may snort or grunt and it can run at a speed of 60km/h if it is being pursued. In order to defend itself, the giraffe will kick vigorously with its front legs.

Acacia leaves form the bulk of the giraffe’s diet, but other trees are also browsed. A male, or bull, can eat up to 80kg of leaves each day, along with bark and fruit.

The Rothschild Giraffe is threatened by hybridisation (interbreeding) with other giraffe subspecies. Further, poaching for the giraffe’s pelt, meat and tail has significantly reduced the wild population. The hair that grows at the end of the tail is used for threading beads and making bracelets.

Did You Know?

  • The giraffe is the tallest of all mammals, males reaching a height of about 5.5m and females about 5m
  • To circulate blood all through this tall body, the giraffe has the biggest heart of any animal, weighing about 12 kg!
  • A giraffe’s tongue can reach up to 45cm long and 8cm wide! The tongue's dark colour prevents blistering in the sun
  • Always alert for danger, giraffes sleep for approximately two hours a day, and catch quick 5–6 minute naps for the rest of the time

  • Close to 2m long, the giraffe's neck has seven vertebrae like other mammals, just longer. The long neck means great changes in blood pressure as a giraffe lowers or raises its head, so special blood vessels and valves compensate. Without this adaptation, giraffes would faint when blood pressure increased

Class
Mammalia
Order

Artiodactyla

Family

Giraffidae

Species Name

Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi

Status

Conservation dependant