World Giraffe Day 2020 (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an annual event initiated by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), the only NGO focusing exclusively on giraffe conservation. The GCF plays a critical role in ensuring the survival of vulnerable giraffes. It is also a way to celebrate the tallest mammal on the planet.

Giraffe Facts

• They are the tallest land animals, growing up to 6 metres (m) and weighing around 1400 kg.

• Their neck is 1.8 m long, and weighs around 272 kg. Their mane runs the entire length of their neck. The long neck benefits allow them to access foliage high up in the trees, not competing with other wildlife for food. 

• The legs are 1.8 m long.

• A giraffe’s tongue is 50 centimetres (cm) long, and they have no front teeth in their upper jaw.

• Their tails are 80-100 cm long allowing them to whisk away flying insects off their long body.

• Giraffes can run up to 60 km/h.

• The lifespan of a giraffe in the wild is 15-20 years, compared to up to 28 years in captivity.

• Each giraffe has their own unique patterns.

• Gestation for a giraffe is 13-15 months. A calf is born whilst the mother is standing and drops from a height of 1.8 m to the ground. The calf can walk within an hour of birth. Calves will remain with their mothers for around two years.

• Giraffe predators are humans, lions, leopards, and hyenas.

You will often see giraffes walking around with Oxpecker birds on their bodies. These birds remove ticks and other parasites that live in the giraffe’s fur and alert them to danger by chirping.

Habitat

The habitat of giraffes is the semi-arid savannahs and open woodlands throughout Africa. They are social animals, not territorial or confined to any territory. A group of giraffes is called a ‘Tower”, with around 10-20 members in the group.

Giraffes only sleep around 20 minutes a day in small bursts of around 5 minutes at a time, as they must always be alert for predators. For this reason, they don’t lie down but sometimes will always sit vigilantly. 

Diet

They are herbivores, only eating plants, leaves, and fruits high in branches. As a result, giraffes can go without water for weeks to get most of their required moisture from the food source. 

Conservation Status

Over the past 30 years, the giraffe population has decreased by 40% and referred to as the “silent extinction”. This slow decline was the cause behind the initiation of World Giraffe Day. In 1985, the giraffe population was numbered 157,000. At last count, in 2015, only 97,000 giraffes were recorded. Their status is now listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction. They are considered one species with nine different subspecies. (IUCN).

Humans are the primary cause of the decrease in giraffe numbers. Human population growth, civil unrest, hunting for body parts, poaching, trophy hunting, habitat loss due to deforestation, and disease contribute to their decline. However, by education, support, raising awareness, and supporting giraffe organisations, it is possible to reverse the decline of these exotic and unique animals. 

World Giraffe Day 2020

References

https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/giraffe

Giraffe Conservation Foundation

Africa Geographic

IUCN Red List