Lessons From the Giraffe

Giraffes move across the African savanna in loose herds and have no established leader. Individuals come and go as they please, but while part of a herd, each giraffe watches out for danger and warns the others.
The average bull stands 18 feet tall and weighs 3000 pounds. A cow stands 16 feet tall and is several hundred pounds lighter.

The giraffe’s 8-foot neck weighs over 500 pounds. Blood pressure fluctuations created by lowering or raising its head could cause the giraffe to blackout, but blood vessels in a giraffe’s head expand when the giraffe lowers its head and contract as the giraffe raises its head, ensuring a steady blood supply to the brain.

Mind the Surroundings

In order to drink, the giraffe must spread its front feet apart and lower its head. Thus, one giraffe remains upright while the others drink. When the “lookout” puts its head down, another raises its head.

A healthy adult giraffe has few predators. Lions pose the biggest threat, but lions attack only young, vulnerable, or weakened giraffes. Crocodiles sometimes try to grab an adult while it is drinking, and young giraffes fall prey to leopards and wild dogs.

Large eyes and a keen sense of hearing equip a giraffe to detect danger sooner than other animals. Biologists observe antelope and zebra grazing near giraffe herds in order to use the giraffes’ movements as an early warning system.

Protect the Vulnerable

A baby giraffe stands 6 feet tall and weighs 80 to 150 pounds at birth. The female, or cow, carefully camouflages her calf among trees and undergrowth. She remains nearby to watch for predators during the day and returns at night to nurse the calf.

As the calves grow, the cows help one another by forming a nursery, called a crèche. One female watches over several young while the others forage for food and water. The young become independent at 12 to 16 months.
A giraffe grazes and ruminates 16 to 20 hours each day. A giraffe’s tough, 18-inch tongue allows it to eat leaves from the thorny acacia tree, and its height allows it to reach higher than other species.
A giraffe can survive on 15 pounds of forage per day, but it can eat over one hundred pounds per day when food is plentiful.

The Giraffe in Action

Watch Out

Unlike other mammals, giraffe herds have no set leader. When a giraffe is part of the herd, however, it watches out for the others.

Take Turns

Herd members work together in order to avoid danger and get the water they need. One giraffe keeps its head up in order to spot danger.

Communicate Clearly

Giraffes communicate across wide areas. Courting bulls cough, cows whistle to their calves, and studies indicate giraffes also use infrasound.

Be Ready

A giraffe remains alert at least twenty hours a day and rests up to two hours a day, dozing off in five-minute increments.