Giraffa camelopardalis

The giraffe is the tallest ruinant with a long neck adapted to reach the vegetation far above which is inaccessible to other herbivores.It has shoulders that steeply slopes to the hindquarters.The long legs are nearly equal to it’s length.The Male weighs 1.000-1.932 tonnes and 9-11 feet ,2.7-3.3 meters tall upto its shoulder and upto 5.5 meters upto its horns,females weigh lesser 0.7-1.182 tonnes and 2 feet shorterter than the male.
Giraffes Color is brown to rich chestnut,old males are darker or even black with unique patterns of patches of lighter colour.Adult males have pungent smell while females have four teats.
The giraffes have a unique walking gait moving both right legs forward then both left with a top speed of about 35 miles an hour.Giraffe horns are actually knobs covered with skin and hair above the eyes which protect the head from injury.
This animal was thought to be a cross between a camel and a leopard owning to its height,spotted body and scientific name<I>(Giraffa camelopardalis)</I>.

Giraffes inhabit the arid and dry-savanna zones south of the Sahara and wherever trees occur.The big bulls can reach up to 19 feet a yard higher than their cows.They feed mainly on broad leafed deciduous foliage and on other evergreen species.It’s menu includes Acacia and Combretum trees that are always available in most areas.This animal can feed on 134 kg of leaves per day and drinks water every 2 to 3 days.Since it feeds on green leaves it can leave with no water where its not available.It’s long forelegs has to be bend when drinking water.
They can be commonly sighted even outside wildlife conservational areas.They are social ,non-territorial with no cordinated herd movements or leadership.Males test their strength by swinging necks on each other to establish who is dominant.

Females usually browse for about 12 hours a day while males spend more less.The night is mostly spent ruminating while lying down after dark and before dawn.Bulls spend more time walking when compared to cows unless they are in heat.Females giraffes associate easily than their male counterparts especially when with young ones because they tend to stay together.Their good eyesight and height enables them see the rest of the herd and preditors though they never wander far much away from the rest.

Giraffe calves easily fall prey to lions and spotted hyenas when young.Adult giraffes are often threatened by human poachers who kill them for meat and skin.
Giraffes can be viewed in Tsavo National Parks and other Kenyan national parks.

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Sullivan Pau is a reporter and writer on kenyan tours, Vacation, Travel and Tourist facilities. For More Information on Kenyan Tourism, Visit His Site at Travel Kenya website All About Kenyan Tourism Or Email: gacheru04@gmail.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – What it is a Giraffe – Travel Kenya – Kenya Africas’ Safari Destination