There are several giraffe subspecies. While some, like the Angolan giraffe, live in desert areas, most giraffes live in savannahs and open woods. They prefer Acacieae, Commiphora, Combretum, and open Terminalia woodlands over denser habitats, such as Brachystegia woodlands.
When stressed, giraffes may nibble the bark off branches. They have even been observed chewing on old bones. For the most part, however, giraffes graze on the specific tree twigs found in their preferred habitats. These twigs provide significant calcium and protein to sustain giraffes’ growth rate. They also eat shrubs, grass, and fruit. A giraffe consumes approximately 34 kg (75 lb) of leaves each day. Peak feeding occurs during the early and last hours of the day. Between these hours and at night, giraffes are typically ruminating.
Giraffes have a significant impact on the trees they eat. They delay young tree growth and can reach the upper regions of plants that other animals cannot. Additionally, giraffes act as pollinators by dispersing the seeds they digest.
A group of giraffes is called a tower. Tower dynamics are constantly changing. There are typically 10-20 giraffes per tower, and individuals come and go as they please. Aside from the bond between mother and offspring, giraffes do not appear to form strong social ties with each other. However, some studies do suggest giraffes intentionally choose the individuals they spend time with, even forming long-term social ties based on kinship, sex, and other factors. Giraffe towers in the same area associate with each other, coming together for some activities and dispersing for others.
Some giraffe groups are more exclusive. For instance, while they overlap geographically, different groups of Masai giraffes in Tanzania have different reproductive and calf survival rates. Proximity to predators and humans affect giraffe social dynamics. Groups closer to tourism or human communities tend to have fewer interactions with other nearby groups.
Between 1985 and 1999, the giraffe population declined from 155,000 to 140,000 individuals in the wild. Today, there are about 68,300 mature giraffes left. In 2016, the IUCN classified giraffes as vulnerable to extinction. Conservation status differs among giraffe subspecies. The Masai and Reticulated subspecies are considered threatened while the Rothschild subspecies is on the verge of extinction. Giraffes are disappearing from their historical range in Angola, Mali, and Nigeria.
Giraffes have suffered greatly from habitat degradation. Firewood harvesting and cattle pastures have taken over the Sahel. And, while giraffes and livestock can usually coexist, pastures do not provide the plants giraffes require. Droughts in areas like northern Kenya have increased conflict between people and wildlife, who are now are in competition for natural resources. Herders are even intentionally killing wildlife. Giraffes have been particularly hard hit. Sanctuaries are working to protect giraffes across Africa, but we all need to work to protect these animals.
Learn more about giraffe decline across Africa.
Giraffa camelopardalis
175,000 globally
Vulnerable
Sub-Saharan Africa
Habitat destruction
Poaching
A community garden is a wonderful way to bring people together while growing fresh, healthy food. Kids can ask their school, local library, or community center if there’s space to start a garden, then invite neighbors and classmates to help plant, water, and harvest vegetables or flowers. Some gardens even donate their extra produce to food banks or share it with neighbors who need it. It’s a hands-on way to learn about nature, teamwork, and taking care of your community’s shared spaces.
Wildlife centers take care of injured or orphaned animals, and they always need extra support to keep helping. Kids can host a bake sale, lemonade stand, or online fundraiser, or organize a “walk-a-thon” with friends and family to raise money for a wildlife rescue near them. You could also collect donated supplies the center needs, like towels, blankets, or pet food. Even a small donation can help feed, shelter, or heal an animal in need.
Recycling projects let kids turn everyday trash into something useful — or at least keep it out of landfills! You could start a recycling bin program at your school, organize a can and bottle drive to raise money for charity, or get creative and turn old materials into art, planters, or bird feeders. You might even research your town’s recycling rules and make a poster or flyer to help neighbors recycle correctly. Small habits, like rinsing containers or separating paper from plastic, add up to a big impact when a whole community joins in.
Setting up a booth at your local farmers market is a great way to get your whole neighborhood excited about helping the planet. You could raise money for a cause you care about — like a wildlife shelter, a tree-planting group, or a beach cleanup fund — by selling homemade crafts, lemonade, or baked goods. You could also use your booth to teach people about recycling, showing them fun facts or simple tips for sorting their trash the right way. It’s a great way to practice public speaking, teamwork, and making a real difference in your community.
Every year on the third Saturday of September, people around the world celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day, and you can sign up with local groups in your community to join thousands of other volunteers picking up trash along the shore. But you don’t have to wait for that one day — cleanups can happen any time! Grab some gloves, trash bags, and a few friends, and organize your own cleanup day at a nearby river, stream, lake, or beach. It’s a fun way to hang out with friends while protecting fish, turtles, and birds from plastic and litter. Nationalcleanupday.
Planting trees is one of the easiest ways kids can help fight climate change and give animals a home. You can join organizations like SAFE Worldwide, One Tree Planted, or the Arbor Day Foundation, which often have kid-friendly volunteer days and even let you sponsor a tree from home. Or, team up with your family, neighbors, or scout troop to start your own mini tree-planting project in a local park, schoolyard, or empty lot (just ask permission first!). Every tree you plant helps clean the air, cool the planet, and grow into a home for birds and squirrels for years to come.