Giraffe

(Giraffa camelopardalis)

Live: Africa, south of the Sahara Desert

Habitat: Dry savannah and open woodland

Diet: Leaves and shoots of trees and shrubs

Gestation: 15 months, usually 1 offspring born

Longevity: 25 years

Status: Lower risk

General: Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world, superbly adapted to feeding on the leaves at the tops of trees. Males can reach heights of 5.3 metres and females 4.5 metres. Each giraffe has its own individual pattern, like a human fingerprint.

Giraffes have extremely long prehensile tongues, measuring well over 30cm. They predominantly feed on Acacia tree species, which have long sharp thorns protecting the leaves. Their tongue helps them to grab the leaves without getting a mouthful of thorns. They also produce large amounts of thick mucus like saliva in their mouth, which helps to soften the leaves and thorns when chewing.

The giraffes' neck is long and flexible but only contains 7 neck bones, just like humans. As giraffes are so tall they find it very difficult to lie down and then get up quickly and are vulnerable to predators when down. They only lie down for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time, when they feel secure.

Giraffes suffer from habitat loss and from hunting for the meat trade. They are also killed for their tail hair, which is often made into bracelets.