What are the Good Qualities of Giraffes?

Of all the animals in the world, the giraffe literally stands above them all. The legs alone are around 6 feet. As of 2011, Giraffes naturally occur in isolated areas of Africa, mainly in the savanna south of the Sahara Desert. There are nine species of giraffe. As of 2011, only the Uganda Giraffe was listed as endangered.

  1. Height

    • A mature adult giraffe can stretch to a height of 15 feet. It gives the animal access to buds and leaves high up in trees that other animals simply can't reach. The height also gives them a clear view of the grasslands, which allows them to keep a look out for lurking predators. Lions will ambush and attack an unsuspecting giraffe.

    Appetite

    • Giraffes don't mind eating things like fruit and grass, but the acacia tree is its main course. Its strong tongue is not affected by the sharp thorns of the acacia. The tongue, which is usually around 20 inches long, can pluck food from around thorns. That method means it doesn't get a lot of plant material in one "bite," which explains why giraffes are constantly eating, sometimes as much as 15 hours a day. A giraffe needs at least 15 lbs of food a day to survive, but can eat more than 75 lbs in a day. Giraffes con consume a lot of water, but can survive for days on the water found in the acacia leaves.

    Birth

    • Female giraffes can have as many as 12 babies in their lifetime. At birth, a giraffe is 6 feet tall and weighs over 160 lbs. The newly born giraffe has trouble walking at first as their shaky legs struggle to hold up their body weight. However, after about 60 minutes the giraffe can safely stand and feed on its mother's milk.

    Defense Mechanisms

    • Giraffes are tough animals and will often fight to establish dominance. Bull giraffes swing their heads and strike each other with ossicones, the horns at the top of their heads. They can also be tough against predators as the kick of a giraffe can break a lion's back. They can also outrun some enemies at speeds up to 30 mph. Giraffes also practice safety in numbers. When they bend over to get water, eats easy for a predator to catch them. So while one giraffe bends to drink, others will form a look-out committee.