The giraffe is an African mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. It is traditionally considered to be one species with nine subspecies.
The giraffe’s distinguishing characteristics are its long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones, and its distinctive coat patterns. Its scattered range extends from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east.
Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs and woodlands. Their food source is leaves, fruits and flowers of woody plants, primarily acacia species, which they browse at heights most other herbivores cannot reach.
Giraffe facts
The giraffe’s long neck can stretch more than 7 feet in length.
The giraffe’s neck makes up almost half of its overall height.
Giraffes have 7 vertebrae the neck.
The Giraffe is the tallest creature in the animal kingdom.
Giraffes are only found in sub-Saharan Africa.
An adult giraffe stands 14 to 19 ft.
Their legs alone are often more than six feet long.
Giraffes can run as fast as 60 km/h.
Giraffes walk at about 15 km/h.
Giraffes can weigh up to 2,800 pounds.
Giraffes live an average of 25 years in the wild.
A giraffe’s diet consists of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees.
Giraffes travel in small packs called “towers”.
A tower of giraffes typically has 10 to 20 members.
Giraffes give birth while standing up.
Usually, giraffes also sleep while sitting or standing.
Female giraffes can give birth at any time throughout the year.
Baby giraffes are called calves.
The young calves learn to stand just 30 minutes after birth.
They can run 10 hours after birth.
Their babies are usually 6 ft long and weigh around 70 kg
Giraffes’ spots are all slightly unique.
Giraffes spend 16 to 20 hours every day searching for and eating food.
Giraffes’ main predators are lions, leopards, and hyenas.
Giraffes get most of their water from their diet.
Female giraffes are pregnant for 15 months.
Most giraffes have 2-4 horns on their forehead.
Giraffe horns are called ossicones.
A giraffe can eat almost 34 kg food every day.
There are 6 sub-species of giraffes.
The West African, Rothschild’s, Reticulated, Masai, Angolan, and South African giraffe
The Reticulated Giraffe is the “most common” in the world.
The Masai Giraffe is the biggest subspecies of Giraffe.
Giraffes are not territorial.
A giraffe’s heart weighs around 25 lbs.
World Giraffe Day was established in 2014.
The World Giraffe Day is on the June 21st.
