| Latin Name: Giraffa camelopardalis | | | | which is carried by the wind to other Acacias as a |
| How much does a Giraffe weigh? | | | | signal to raise their tannin levels. |
| The males reach about 1400kg and the females | | | | With the whole area being tannin infested the |
| about 1200kg. | | | | giraffe then moves off to a totally different area, |
| How many vertebras in a giraffes' neck? | | | | often feeding upwind to feed off trees that have |
| They have 7 neck vertebras, the same as all | | | | lower tannin levels. |
| other mammals. For an adult each vertebra can | | | | Other interesting facts: |
| be as long a 1 foot in length. | | | | Giraffe being such tall animals makes it very |
| How fast can a giraffe run? | | | | difficult for them to drink. They are very wary of |
| +- 55km/hour. | | | | predators when approaching water, often |
| How much does a giraffe eat in a day? | | | | stopping every few steps to scan their |
| A giraffe will eat between 30 and 40kg of food in | | | | surroundings for any sign of danger. Once at the |
| one day. They are browsers taking preference to | | | | waters’ edge, they move their front legs |
| the Acacia trees. They have very long tongues | | | | apart and bend them to lower their bodies, then |
| (46cm), which they use to strip leaves off | | | | start drinking. In this position they are very |
| between all the thorns on the Acacias. If a thorn | | | | vulnerable to lions as it is difficult for them to |
| is taken in they simply spit it out. | | | | start running quickly when their legs are so far |
| An amazing adaptation that giraffe have is that | | | | apart. |
| they don't have any blood vessels in their gums, | | | | When the giraffe lowers its head to drink, it gets |
| so they won't bleed when pierced by a thorn. | | | | no circulation of blood to the brain. Circulation is |
| Their tongues get very rough and damaged by | | | | stopped by closing valves at the point where the |
| thorns over a period of time, so they are capable | | | | main arteries’ enter the skull. These valves |
| of shedding the outer layers of the tongue, | | | | re-open when the animals head is lifted up again. |
| leaving it soft and smooth once again. | | | | This helps the giraffe by preventing a rush of |
| The collective name for giraffe is a “journey | | | | blood into the brain when it lowers its head and a |
| of giraffe." The reason for this name is, that they | | | | rush of blood out of its brain when the head is |
| will not stay in the same area for too long feeding | | | | lifted, thus preventing it from passing out. |
| off the same trees. If a giraffe feeds on the | | | | Giraffe very seldom sleep, and when they do |
| same Acacia tree for too long a period, the tree | | | | they lie down on the belly, with the head resting |
| then starts to defend itself by increasing the | | | | against a large tree or termite mound. Sometimes |
| levels of tannin in its leaves. The increase of | | | | they will rest their head on the lower part of the |
| tannin makes the leaves taste very bitter and | | | | back when sleeping. The head is kept above |
| dry, forcing the giraffe to move on. The acacia at | | | | ground level to ensure the circulation of blood to |
| the same time releases chemicals into the air, | | | | the brain is not cut off. |