One of the world’s tallest mammals, the giraffe is well known for its long necks, legs, and spotted patterns. They have small horns, or knobs on their heads that grow up to five inches long. Knobs protect their heads in fights.Males are larger than females and weigh between 2,400 to 3,000 pounds. The females weigh between 1,600 to 2,600 pounds. A fully grown giraffe’s legs are about six feet tall as well as their neck.If a giraffe is healthy, it can live up to 25 years in the wild.
Giraffes can be found in central, eastern, and southern Africa. They live in the savannas where they roam freely among the taller trees, arid land, dense forests, and open plains. They travel in herds.They use their long necks to eat the leaves from the tall leaves, mostly acacia trees.
Though giraffes are usually quiet they aren’t totally noiseless. Giraffes grunt, bellow, moan, and make short, similar to a flute, sounds. They have accurate senses of hearing and sight. They often alert other animals if predators are nearby, though most animals stay away from giraffes. They aren’t territorial, meaning that they don’t care if other animals step on their land.
They sometimes fight by standing side by side, lowering and swinging their heads at one another. Their necks strike each other, twisting their necks together. It’s a test of strength, only done by males of about the same size. Female giraffes strike their front teeth at predators to protect young giraffes.Giraffes don’t usually have to worry about predators. They have long necks that can watch if predators are coming. The predators, such as lions, are afraid of a giraffe. Giraffes have long legs that deliver a powerful kick. It usually keeps lions away as well as other predators.
1. How do giraffes train and/or test their strength?
2. What do giraffes eat?
3. Where do giraffes live?