Giraffe Facts: Neck, Diet, Social Behavior & Habitat

Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth, with males reaching heights up to 18 feet. Their extraordinarily long necks allow them to feed on leaves high in trees that other animals cannot reach. Despite having necks that are 6 feet long, giraffes have only seven neck vertebrae, exactly the same number as humans. Each vertebra is simply elongated to create the iconic long neck that makes giraffes instantly recognizable across African savannas.

The Unique Giraffe Neck

The giraffe's neck is a marvel of evolution. Each of the seven vertebrae can be over 10 inches long, compared to human neck vertebrae that measure only a few inches. This elongation happened gradually over millions of years as giraffes evolved to reach food sources unavailable to competitors. The long neck requires special adaptations. A giraffe's heart weighs about 25 pounds and must generate blood pressure twice that of humans to pump blood all the way up to the brain. Special valves in the neck veins prevent blood from rushing to the head when the giraffe bends down to drink, which would otherwise cause the animal to pass out.

Diet and Feeding Behavior

Giraffes are herbivores that feed almost exclusively on leaves from acacia trees and other tall plants. An adult giraffe consumes about 75 pounds of leaves each day, spending 16 to 20 hours browsing. Their long purple or black tongues measure up to 20 inches and are prehensile, meaning giraffes can wrap them around branches to strip leaves efficiently. The dark tongue color may protect against sunburn from extended exposure while feeding. Giraffes prefer acacia leaves despite the thorns that protect these trees. They use their thick lips and tough mouths to navigate around thorns. Giraffes can survive weeks without drinking water because they get most moisture from the plants they eat.

Social Structure and Behavior

Giraffes live in loose, ever changing social groups called towers. A typical tower contains 10 to 20 individuals, though the composition changes frequently as giraffes come and go. Females and their young form the core of social groups. Adult males often live alone or in small bachelor groups, only joining female groups to mate. Giraffes communicate through infrasound, producing sounds below the range of human hearing. They also use visual signals like neck movements to communicate. Male giraffes engage in necking, where they swing their necks and heads at each other to establish dominance. These battles rarely cause serious injury but determine social hierarchy and mating rights.

Habitat and Geographic Range

Giraffes inhabit savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands across sub Saharan Africa. They need areas with scattered trees for feeding and open spaces for spotting predators. Different giraffe subspecies occupy different regions, from West Africa to East Africa and down to South Africa. Each subspecies has distinct coat patterns. Reticulated giraffes have clearly defined polygonal spots, while Masai giraffes have irregular jagged spots. Habitat loss and fragmentation threaten giraffe populations as human settlements expand into traditional giraffe territory. Protected areas and wildlife reserves are crucial for giraffe survival.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Female giraffes reach sexual maturity around 4 years old, while males mature at 3 to 4 years but usually do not breed until older. Pregnancy lasts about 15 months, one of the longest gestations among mammals. Females give birth standing up, so calves drop about 6 feet to the ground at birth. This dramatic entrance breaks the umbilical cord and helps stimulate the calf to breathe. Newborns stand within an hour and can run within 10 hours. Mothers are protective but often leave calves in nursery groups while they feed. Young giraffes face high predation from lions, leopards, and hyenas. About 50% of calves do not survive their first year.

Conservation Challenges

Giraffe populations have declined by 40% over the past 30 years, leading to their classification as vulnerable to extinction. Some subspecies are critically endangered. Major threats include habitat loss from agricultural expansion, human settlement growth, and infrastructure development. Poaching for meat, hides, and tails also impacts populations in some regions. Climate change affects food availability as droughts become more severe. Conservation efforts focus on protecting habitat, establishing wildlife corridors between isolated populations, and combating poaching. Community based conservation programs that provide economic benefits from giraffe tourism help local people value giraffe protection.