Facts About Giraffes

Facts About Giraffes – Their hearts weigh almost two stones, their necks grow to six feet and they communicate on an ultrasound level. Giraffes are one of the most unique species on earth. Below you’ll find more interesting Facts About Giraffes.

Facts About Giraffes

• There is only one species of giraffe, with nine subspecies recognised by their different patterns. Their name (Giraffa Camelopardalis) means ‘one who walks swiftly, a camel marked like a leopard’. Like camels, giraffes have a (small) hump on their backs and can go without drinking water for long periods due to their succulent diet of Acacia leaves, but this is where the similarity ends.
• Facts About Giraffes – The tallest land mammals-giraffes are six feet tall at birth and males can grow up to 18 metres in height with a length of the neck of six meters. A baby giraffe (calf) fell head first to the ground from a height of about six metres at birth, which causes it to take its first big breath. Newborns are up and walking around after about one hour.
• Giraffes are big hearted creatures – quite literally. They need their 26lb heart and high blood pressure to stop them fainting when they raise their heads from ground level.
• Facts About Giraffes: Many cultures have honoured the giraffe. They have been depicted in African cave paintings and ancient Egyptian art. Whilst not hunted in large numbers, there is still some poaching. Giraffe tail hairs are used to make jewellery and hide is used to make sandals. The burning skin of a giraffe is used to treat nose-bleeds among some tribes.
• Giraffes spend most of their day eating, needing up to 34 kilograms of food per day to fuel their massive size. They produce thick saliva which coats any thorns in preparation for swallowing. Adult giraffes are too large for most predators but the young can fall prey to lions, leopards and hyenas. Up to half of all giraffe calves never reach adulthood.