Masai Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi
WILD STATUS
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
DISTRIBUTION
Masai Giraffe are found in southern Kenya and Tanzania.
SIZE
Masai Giraffe is the tallest land animal at height of up to 5.5 m (18’).
Weight from 907-1814 kg (2000-4000 lbs)
All giraffe species prefer dry savanna and grassland.
REPRODUCTION
A single baby is born following 457 days of gestation. Baby giraffes are 6 feet tall when born. The mother gives birth while standing up.
A single baby is born following 457 days of gestation. Baby giraffes are 6 feet tall when born. The mother gives birth while standing up.
DIET
Leaves, buds and fruit. Thorny acacias are their favourite. They wrap their tongue around the thorny branch and strip off the leaves.
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INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Latin name “camelopardalis” comes from Egyptians, Greeks and Romans around the year 46 A.D., and means a mix between a camel and a leopard.
- Their necks are 6’ long, but have only 7 vertebrae, like humans. The vascular system in their necks is equipped with special valves to prevent blood draining from their brains.
- A giraffe’s heart is 2 feet long and weighs 25 lbs.
- Their tongue is 18” long and is used to grasp and hold objects, thereby enabling them to strip tree branches. They love to munch on brambles.
- The giraffe is the only four-legged animal able to deliver a sideways kick. Their kick is strong enough to decapitate a lion.
- Each giraffe’s pattern is different from all others, giving them the equivalent of a fingerprint.
- Giraffes boo, whistle and bellow. They use a frequency lower than that human ears can hear.
- The problem of poaching for meat and skins is responsible for declining numbers in north and western areas of their range. Their main non-human predators are lions with the occasional attack by leopards or hyena.
- They are seen as threats to farmers by competing with domestic stock for food.
HABITAT RANGE
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
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