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November 20, 2019

All about the Giraffe

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The Gentle Giant of the Kruger

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Known as the tallest animal in the world, the giraffe can reach a total height of 5.5m. With all this high the giraffe weighs a staggering 1 200kg, with the females weighing about 800kg. The Giraffe has developed a very unique circulatory system because of its insanely long neck. Zoologists are still unable to fully understand and comprehend how this unique system works. The giraffe is the only known animal that has this type of circulatory system. Both the male and female have dusty yellow skin with brown patches that cover the outside o the boy with clean underside. Both males and females sport two bony horns that are covered in a thin layer of skin.

Giraffes are not animals that always form herds but will come together from time to time. Herds primarily consist of calves and adult females as the males are nomads that travel on their own until they find an available female to mate with. When males fight for dominance, they swing their heads like massive wrecking balls, hitting each other against the sides until one collapses. These blows can be heard several kilometres away.

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Giraffe cows have a gestation period of 457 days after which a single calf is born. Cows are continually courted by bulls. At birth, a giraffe calf weighs up to 100kg. The calves are weaned within a period of 6 to 8 months. Unfortunately more than half of giraffes do not reach maturity as they are easy prey that get hunted by hyenas, lions and leopards.

The Giraffe has a very unique diet that stems from its unique physical stature. The giraffe feeds on leaves that can be found at the very tops of trees that are out of reach to other animals. A fascinating feature the Giraffe has is its prehensile tongue along with its entire digestive system, is much thicker and harder than other animals, which allows it to also feed on thorns and other sharp food sources that would usually be fatal to other animals.

Giraffes have an unmistakable square shaped hoof print and are prone to breaking their long, slender legs when slipping and falling.

There are currently 7 different species of giraffe hat can be found in different parts of Africa.

The giraffe has a very obscure relative that is called an Okapi which is very rarely seen in the wild.

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