Welcome to Quare, the educational podcast for young and old alike. Today, in the Science and Nature category, this episode is all about the giraffe.

What is a giraffe?

The giraffe is the tallest land animal in the world. It is a hoofed mammal that lives in the savannas and open forests of sub-Saharan Africa. It is instantly recognisable by its extraordinarily long neck, its long legs, its unique spotted coat, and its small skin-covered horns called ossicones. No other animal looks quite like it.

How big and heavy is it?

The giraffe is simply in a league of its own. Adult males stand between 5 and 6 metres tall and can weigh between 800 kg and 1,200 kg. Females are a little smaller, between 4.5 and 5.2 metres. At birth, a baby giraffe — called a calf — already measures about 1.8 metres tall!

Why does it have such a long neck?

That is the big question! Contrary to what you might think, a giraffe's neck has only 7 cervical vertebrae — the same as all mammals — but each one is extremely elongated. This adaptation allows it to reach leaves in the high branches of acacia trees, which are out of reach for other herbivores. But the neck also plays a role in competition between males: during fights, they strike each other with their necks and heads, a behaviour known as "necking".

What does it eat?

The giraffe is a herbivore. It feeds mainly on leaves, flowers and fruit from trees, especially acacias, which are its favourite. Its long bluish tongue, which can reach 45 to 50 centimetres, allows it to grasp leaves with great precision, even between the thorns of acacia trees. An adult can consume up to 30 to 34 kg of vegetation per day. The giraffe spends around 12 hours a day eating.

How does it move?

The giraffe moves in a very distinctive way. It simultaneously moves both limbs on the same side of its body — both left legs together, then both right legs. This is called ambling. At a gallop, however, it propels both hind legs together followed by its front legs, rather like a rabbit, and can reach speeds of 55 to 60 km/h over short distances.

How does it drink?

Drinking is a real challenge for the giraffe! Because of the length of its legs and neck, it has to splay or bend its front legs into a wide split to reach the water's surface. In this position, it is vulnerable to predators, which is why it drinks as rarely as possible — often only every 2 to 3 days. It gets much of the water it needs from the succulent leaves it eats.

Where does it live?

The giraffe lives exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa, in wooded savannas, forests and shrublands. It is found mainly in East and Southern African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. It is present in many national parks such as the Serengeti, Amboseli and Kruger. Some populations also live in the Sahel, such as the Niger giraffe, which is one of the most endangered subspecies in the world.

Does it live alone or in groups?

The giraffe is a semi-social animal. It most often lives in informal groups called herds, which can number from a few individuals to around thirty. These groups are not fixed: individuals join and part ways regularly depending on available resources. Females and their young often form more stable groups, while adult males tend to be more solitary or form groups among themselves. Unlike many animals, the giraffe does not have a strongly hierarchical social structure.

www.quare.club

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.