The Giraffe

I wanted to learn more about giraffes. The giraffe has the same number of bones in its neck as people do. The giraffe has seven bones. They have brown spots. They have 4 small horns on their head. They have large feet, eyes and ears. Adult giraffes weigh about 1800 pounds. They can be from 14 to 20 feet tall.

Giraffes live on ranges in South Africa. They also live on savannas. Savannas are areas with grass and a few trees.

Giraffes are herbivores. That means they eat plants. They eat leaf buds, fruit, melons and corn. They have a hard time eating or drinking off the ground. They spread their front legs to bend their knees. It’s easiest for the giraffe to eat off the tops of trees.

A mother giraffe will have one calf every year and a half. She does not have twins. When born a calf can weigh between 100 and 150 pounds. It can be 6 feet tall. Wild hunting animals are predators to the giraffe. The giraffe runs too fast to be caught. They can also kick their predator. Some people hunted and killed giraffe for their hide. They made musical instruments with the hide.

It protects itself by running away and kicking.

The giraffe’s meat is sometimes eaten. It is tasty but tough. A group of giraffes is called a troop. There can be 70 giraffes in a troop. The giraffe is related to an animal called the okapi.


I got my information in several different places.
Stone, Lynn M., Giraffes, Rourke Corporation, Inc., Vero Beach, Florida, 32964, 1990
Internet-- www.enchantedlearning.com