What is giraffes favorite food

For giraffes, however, each one can be over 10 inches Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones. Male giraffes use their horns to spar, throwing their neck against each other. As a male matures, calcium deposits begin to form on his skull to protect it when he head-butts with other males.

These calcifications can be quite pronounced, giving the strange appearance of a three- to five-horned giraffe. Giraffes are so big that they really don't need to hide from predators. There is safety in numbers! Besides humans, only lions and crocodiles hunt them. If they have to, giraffes defend themselves with a deadly kick, karate-style. Their speed, the way they move, and their body designs also help them to escape predators if they need to. Giraffes have a way of moving, or gait, in which both the front and back legs on one side move forward together, then the other two legs on the other side move forward.

You might think watching out for lions and spending 16 to 20 hours a day eating would all weigh heavily on a giraffe. Surprisingly enough, giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep in a hour period! They often achieve that in quick naps that may last only a minute or two at a time. Giraffes can rest while standing, but they sometimes also lie down with their head resting on their rump. Many people think that giraffes have no voice, but they do make a variety of sounds, including moos, roars, snorts, hisses, and grunts.

They just very rarely do so. Threats—such as lions nearby—may warrant a snort. Giraffes are often the early warning signal for other savanna wildlife: if a giraffe herd starts to run, everyone else does, too!

Studies suggest giraffes vocalize below the level of human hearing and perhaps use this sound for long-distance communication. Their elegant stride, outrageous eyelashes, and calm expression give them an air of refinement. Blending right in: In a zoo, giraffes stand out. Yes, giraffes do drink water, but far less than you would expect. On average, an adult giraffe will drink 2 gallons around 7.

As mentioned above, getting their head down low enough to drink puts giraffes in a vulnerable position. To avoid this, giraffes get most of the moisture they need from the leaves they eat. If needed, they can go for weeks without an actual drink of water. If water is easily available, such as in a zoo setting without predators, giraffes will drink 10 gallons 38 liters a day. When a giraffe is standing upright, its heart has to work very hard to get enough blood circulating up the length of its neck to the brain.

As a result, a giraffe has very high blood pressure, about 2. So you many wonder how they avoid fainting from the blood-rush to the head when they bend over for a drink. When a giraffe bends down, the jugular vein in its neck actually locks up. This prevents the rush of blood to the head. When it straightens out its neck by lifting its head, the vein opens up again. How cool is that? Giraffe care will vary from zoo to zoo, but the aim is to provide them with the same nutrients that they would get if they were eating in their natural environment.

They also get hay, carrots, and special biscuits. You are also welcome to post comments and photos on our social media channels including Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. Call us Directions. SA Specials. A zebra-giraffe hybrid?

A giraffe's tough mouth and its great height allow it to reach and eat foods most other animals can't. Giraffes have a long prehensile tongue, and both the tongue and lips are virtually unaffected by thorny branches that most herbivores would not be able to utilize as food.

They strip leaves from limbs, even very prickly ones, like those of the acacia see picture above , by enclosing a portion of the branch within the mouth and pulling the head back. The impervious lips and tongue rip the leaves away. A giraffe-zebra hybrid?

Works Cited. A giraffe feeding high up on an acacia. Image: Steve Garvie.