Giraffes

Giraffes spend most of their day eating because they need to eat a lot to maintain their large size!

Adult giraffes can reach leaves up to 20 feet (6 meters) high — that’s as tall as a two-story house!

Giraffes have special tough lips that help protect them from thorns while they’re eating!

A giraffe’s saliva is very thick and sticky, which helps protect their mouths from thorny plants!

When giraffes do drink water, they have to spread their front legs apart in a special way to reach it!

Giraffes are ruminants, which means they have a special digestive system that allows them to chew their food multiple times, similar to cows.

Conservation & Population

There are fewer than 100,000 giraffes left in the wild — that’s less than the number of people in a small city!

Giraffe populations have decreased by about 40% in the last 30 years!

Giraffes are considered “vulnerable” to extinction by scientists who study endangered animals!

The biggest threats to giraffes are habitat loss and poaching!

Some giraffe subspecies have fewer than 2,000 individuals left in the wild!

There are special protected areas called reserves where giraffes can live safely!

Each giraffe’s spot pattern is unique, which helps scientists count and track individual giraffes!

Fun and Unique Facts

A giraffe’s hooves are the size of a dinner plate — about 12 inches (30 centimeters) across!

Each giraffe has small horn-like structures called ossicones that are actually made of cartilage covered with skin!

Female giraffes’ ossicones have small tufts of fur on top, while males’ ossicones become bald from fighting!

The spots of some male giraffes darken with age, indicating their strength and maturity.

Giraffes have extra-thick skin that’s about 2 centimeters thick — that’s as thick as a stack of 20 sheets of paper!

A giraffe’s neck contains a special network of blood vessels and valves that stops them from fainting when they lift their head up quickly!

A giraffe’s long eyelashes help protect their eyes from thorny branches while they eat!

Giraffes have a special stretchy ligament in their neck that helps support their head, like a giant rubber band!

A giraffe’s spots can help release heat from their body, keeping them cool in the hot African sun!

Giraffes form strong friendships and often have preferred companions they like to spend time with!

Mother giraffes sometimes form “daycare centers” where one adult watches several calves while others feed!

Young giraffes practice their fighting skills by playfully swinging their necks at each other!

Giraffes can make various sounds including hums, snorts, and even whistles!

When giraffes walk, they move both legs on the same side of their body at the same time — this is called “pacing”!

Giraffes use their tails as fly swatters to keep annoying insects away!

When a predator is nearby, giraffes stamp their feet to warn others in their group!

Giraffes often rub their necks together as a way of showing friendship!

Different giraffe subspecies have different spot patterns depending on where they live!

Giraffes prefer to sleep in areas with scattered trees so they can quickly hide if they spot a predator!

Giraffes help maintain the health of their habitat by pruning trees as they feed, which promotes new growth!

Giraffes often share their habitat with animals like zebras and antelopes, forming a mutually beneficial relationship!

Different groups of giraffes often meet at favorite feeding spots, like having a picnic with friends!

Twin giraffes are extremely rare — they occur in only about 1 out of every 280,000 births!

Young female giraffes often return to their birth herd to raise their own calves!

A baby giraffe needs to learn how to coordinate its long legs and neck during its first few weeks of life!

Mother giraffes teach their calves which leaves are safe to eat and which to avoid!

Young giraffes start eating leaves when they’re just a few weeks old, but continue nursing for up to a year!

Baby giraffes learn to run when they’re just a few days old!

Giraffes spend up to 12 hours a day just chewing and re-chewing their food!

When food is plentiful, giraffes are picky eaters and choose only the tastiest leaves!

Giraffes can tell which leaves are the most nutritious by their smell!

Giraffes sometimes eat bones they find to get extra calcium and minerals!