Interesting Facts

1. Giraffes are the tallest of all land animals. Male giraffes may be as tall as 18 feet.
2. A giraffe’s neck can be as long as 6-8 feet, but they have the same number of bones in their neck as we do. Both humans and giraffes have 7 vertebrae in their necks. A giraffe’s vertebrae are just larger.
3. A giraffe’s heart can weigh up to 25 lbs and is strong enough to work against gravity and pump blood up their long necks.
4. Giraffes have long tongues that are about 18 inches in length. They use their tongues to grasp leaves and strip them from tree branches.
5. The species name “camelopardalis” is Greek for “camel with spots”. Every giraffe’s spots are different just like human fingerprints.

Conservation Status

Threats

Reticulated giraffes are greatly threatened by loss of habitat and hunting.