Fun Facts about Giraffes!

by Aubrey Bevenue, age 12

Giraffes are the tallest living animal and can see over very long distances due to their height.

Giraffes can be found in the southern part of the Sahara Desert in Africa. They prefer the open woodlands and grasslands, and avoid the Namib desert, dense rainforests, marshes and boggy ground. As a benefit to their height, they are the only animal that can reach the upper part of trees. A giraffe's hooves are pretty narrow and prevent the giraffe from sinking into the soft and mushy ground.

Giraffes are able to live for a long time without water, they get all they need from the vegetation they consume. While their long legs allow for easy access to food, drinking is difficult for them as they have to spread out their legs very awkwardly to position themselves lower to the ground. Giraffes use their very long tongues and strong upper lips to eat leaves, tearing them from branches. Giraffes regurgitate their food from their four chambered stomachs. They then re-chew their food and swallow it again. Consuming their food this way provides maximum nutrition from low energy food.

In a giraffe herd, there are usually 12 members. Herding together has a better chance of avoiding any predators. Since giraffes can see very far, they are able to spot predators at a distance and can make an early escape. When a giraffe has to run, they can run up to 33 miles per hour.

During mating season, male giraffes compete with one another for a female. Specifically, the battle by hitting each other with their horns and necks. The female then mates with the winning male and rejoins the herd while she’s pregnant. Over time, the female giraffe finds a safe and quiet spot to have her baby.

Giraffes have free-falling births. The baby slides its legs and head out first. The horns stay flat for an easy fall. After birth, the mother bends down and cleans the baby calf, licking thoroughly with her tongue. Twenty minutes after birth, the calf can start standing up by itself. After a while, the calf takes its first steps, which are usually shaky.

Two weeks after birth, the mom and baby join their herd. The mother and babies form bonds together. When baby giraffes reach mating maturity age, which is typically around three to five years old, younger males herd together to look for females while the girls stay with the mom.

There are three different types of giraffes, distinguished by their spots and color differences. Each giraffe is different and unique in its own way. Giraffes are magnificent creatures in the wild and their features allow them to reach places that other animals can’t.

[Source: Wildlife Explorer]