Species in Peril:
GIRAFFES
The tallest living land animal on the planet
Giraffe Diet and Habitat
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.
The Social Life of Giraffes
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.
Could Giraffes Go Extinct?
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.
A Few More Facts About Giraffes
- They are the world’s tallest living animal
- Giraffes can stand half an hour after being born
- Giraffes spend most of their time standing up
- Young giraffes hang out in groups until they are 5 months old
- Giraffes would be very poor swimmers
- A grown giraffe has 32 teeth and 7 neck bones, just like a person
- They spend up to 75% of their day eating
Species Name
Giraffa camelopardalis
Estimated Population
175,000 globally
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Range
Sub-Saharan Africa
Reasons for Population Decline
Habitat destruction
Poaching
