What Does a Giraffe Eat?

Giraffes are gentle creatures that grow almost 20 feet tall. They spend most of their day looking for food with their 6-foot necks that poke into bushes and trees. Giraffes can consume 150 lbs. of leaves and twigs a day in small mouthfuls and can survive for weeks or even months without water. The diet of giraffes can include hundreds of plants and shrubs, but their are four kinds of food that constitute the majority of a giraffe's diet.

  1. Acacia

    • Acacia is the giraffe's main food source. Acacia is a thorny shrub that bears seed pods, which giraffes eat while navigating sharp edged branches. They also eat the flowers of the acacia shrub. These flowers vary in color, but are often yellow and grow on young shoots.

    Mimosa

    • Mimosa plants are a staple of the giraffe diet. They are interesting plants because some in the species have leaves that close if you touch them. The Venus flytrap is an example. Mimosas grow along river banks and have puffy purple flowers and vine-like branches. They are a common food source for giraffes during the dry season.

    Wild Apricot Trees

    • When wild apricot trees bud and flower in Africa, giraffes will usually be there. The trees' leaves and white pinkish flowers are popular among giraffes who have been known to devour nearly all of the leaves on a tree, if they are allowed. Fortunately, a pesky carnivorous ant often shortens the giraffes' eating frenzy, preventing wild apricot trees from being destroyed by the giraffe population.

    Evergreens

    • Giraffes are so tall it is difficult for their heads to reach the ground. In order to drink water they must kneel, but during the dry season there is little water and giraffes seek streams. They frequently eat evergreens located near rivers or streams.