Giraffe

 On this International Giraffe Day, let's get to know our tall friends .

The Giraffe is a hoofed mammal belonging to the genus 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒂.It is the 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 It's chief distinguishing features are it's 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 .It belongs to the family 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒆.

Full grown giraffes stand 𝟏𝟒 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟗𝐟𝐭 tall, and males are taller than females.The average weight of a male giraffe is 𝟏𝟏𝟗𝟐𝐤𝐠 and the average weight of a female giraffe is 𝟖𝟐𝟖𝐤𝐠.

Both sexes have horn like structures called 𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 ,made from ossified cartilage.The ossicones are used in thermoregulation.They are also used in combat between males.Giraffes have colour vision, and have sharp senses of hearing and smell.

The giraffe has a highly elongated neck,which can reach a height of 𝟕𝐟𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡.

The front legs of giraffes are longer than the hind legs.It has two types of gaits: Walking and Galloping.

A giraffe can sprint at a speed of upto    𝟔𝟎𝐤𝐦/𝐡.

Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs and open woodlands.The Angolan giraffe can be found in desert environment.

Giraffes mostly browse on twigs of trees.They also feed on shrubs, fruits and grass.They eat an average of 𝟑𝟒𝐤𝐠 of plant food daily.

Giraffes usually remain in groups.There can be upto 𝟔𝟎 individuals in a single group of giraffes.

The lifespan of a giraffe is upto 𝟑𝟖 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 .

In 2016,the IUCN classified the giraffe as 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 and estimated that about 𝟗𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 giraffes are left in the wild.

The primary causes for the decrease in giraffe populations are 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 and direct killing for bushmeat markets.