Table of Contents
Why are giraffes hunted?
Giraffes are poached for their meat in many regions of Africa — as well as for their pelts, bones, hair and tails — by hunters and trappers wielding snares, guns and other weapons. Giraffe hair is used to make jewelry, and giraffe tails are highly valued by some cultures.
Can a giraffe bend its neck?
Yes, that’s right, this mighty mammal with the longest neck in the world, can’t reach the watering hole for a slurp! Even worse, giraffe can’t simply bend their necks forward. They must awkwardly splay their forelegs and bend their knees before they can lower their necks to the ground for a drink.
How do giraffes sleep?
For the most part, giraffes tend to sleep during the night, although they do get in some quick naps throughout the day. Giraffes can sleep standing up as well as lying down, and their sleep cycles are quite short, lasting 35 minutes or shorter. Elephants are another animal that sleep very little.
Why do giraffes have tails?
Grazing animals such as elephants, zebras and giraffes have long, thin tails with a tuft of hair on the end. These tails function like built-in fly swatters that enable the animals to protect themselves from biting insects.
What do giraffes look like?
Giraffes tower over Africa’s plains. These tall animals are identified by their long necks, equally long and spindly legs, and spotted coats. Most giraffes have a tan, white or yellow coats that are spotted with brown, square shapes.
How long are giraffe legs?
Just by themselves, giraffe legs are typically around 6 feet in length. Because of the long length of the legs, giraffes are often very speedy runners — often capable of traveling at a very swift pace of 35 miles per hour, according to National Geographic.
How do giraffes camouflage?
Camouflage. The giraffe’s patterned spots and light tan to dark brown coloring help camouflage the animal in the grassland environment. Although their large size and defensive kicking abilities protect them from most savanna predators, babies are at risk and require the extra protection their camouflage offers.