Species Information

The tallest mammal in the world, Giraffes are found in open woodland and wooded grasslands throughout most of Africa's countries. They are unmistakable for its very long legs and neck.

All giraffes have a blotchy coat-color patterns, unique to each individual. By middle age, the male grows a single medial horn on its forhead, and a bump over each eye socket and behind each ear.

They can obtain a height of 18 feet and can weigh in excess of 3000 lbs. Females are normally a little shorter and weigh less than males. Colours vary from tan to dark brown with older animals often becoming darker in colour.

They avoid heavy timber because it restricts the Giraffe from stretching out its stride when being chased by lions.

Besides the lion, predators include hyena, hunting dogs and even leopards. Giraffe can deliver lethal kicks with both their front and hind legs when cornered by predators. They are most vulnerable when drinking and sleeping and when travelling through heavy timbered country where predators may chase the animals over logs and rocks resulting in the animal braking a leg.

Giraffe are ruminants and eat vines, roots and leaves. Its unique prehensile tongue can be extended up to 18 inches. The tongue is used when feeding on most foods however the prehensile tongue is of special use when feeding on thorny bushes.

Giraffes have excellent sense of smell, hearing and sight. Closeup, you can see that their leg movements are unique - their right legs, hind and front, stride together! The neck is so long the giraffe must spread its front legs apart so its head can reach the ground to drink. It has unusually elastic blood vessels with a series of valves that help offset the sudden buildup of blood (and to prevent fainting) when the head is raised, lowered or swung quickly.

The giraffe's high shoulders and sloping back give the impression that its front legs are much longer than the hind legs, but they are in fact only slightly longer.

At a gallop it can reach speeds of 35 miles an hour.

Although a relatively quiet animal, the giraffe is not mute. Giraffes bellow, grunt, bray in distress, moan and emit short flutelike notes. They have acute senses of hearing and sight, often alerting other animals to nearby predators.

Giraffe tails were highly prized by the ancient Egyptians, and still are in many African cultures. The desire for good-luck bracelets, fly whisks and thread for sewing or stringing beads have led people to kill the giraffe for its tail alone. Giraffes are easily killed and poaching (now more often for their meat and hide) continues today.

Information source: David Ireland, African Wildlife Foundation and the National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife