Giraffes are truly fascinating creatures and there’s so much more to them than just their long necks.
We will be looking at incredible facts showcasing just how remarkable giraffes are and why they are truly a wonder of the animal kingdom.
Here are 10 incredible facts about giraffes that will leave you in awe:
1. Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth, with their legs alone being taller than many humans—about 6 feet.
2. These majestic animals can run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances or cruise at 10 mph over longer distances.
3. Despite their height, a giraffe’s neck is too short to reach the ground, so they must spread their front legs or kneel to drink water.
4. Surprisingly, giraffes only need to drink once every few days, as most of their water comes from the plants they eat.
5. Giraffes spend most of their lives standing up, even sleeping and giving birth while standing.
6. A giraffe calf can stand up and walk within an hour after birth and starts sampling vegetation within a week.
7. Sadly, despite the females’ attempts to protect their calves, many giraffe calves are killed by predators in their first few months.
8. Each giraffe’s spots are as unique as human fingerprints, with no two giraffes having exactly the same pattern.
9. Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones, which the males sometimes use for fighting.
10. Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes of sleep in 24 hours, often achieved through quick naps lasting only a minute or two at a time.
And here’s a bonus fact: While it was previously thought that giraffes were silent creatures, they make various sounds including bellowing, snorting, hissing, and even flute-like noises beyond the range of human hearing.
