Giraffes are objectively very cool animals. They have those supremely long necks, iconic camouflage, and unique tongues. I first fell in love with giraffes after seeing the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Gemina, with her famous crooked neck. With her neck turned at almost 90 degrees, she always wore it with grace and beauty. Even though giraffes are just about the most fascinating animals out there, they don’t get nearly enough appreciation. Here are just a handful of reasons giraffes should be your favorite animal!
- They are Majestic Skycrapers
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The average height for a giraffe is 15-20 feet, and their legs alone reach 6 feet. And they still manage to look incredibly graceful that high in the air.
- A Stand-Up Species
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Have you ever seen a giraffe sit down? Most likely not, as they spend most of their lives standing. Giraffes even give birth standing up!
- Music to Your Ears
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Once thought to be a generally quiet animal, giraffes have been observed making various sounds, including flute-like ones!
- Chic Camouflage
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Some say that all snowflakes are one-of-a-kind, some say that all human fingerprints are unique, but it’s really giraffe spots that are unrivaled. Each giraffe coat of spots is more distinctive than the last.
- No Raccoon Eyes Here
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Giraffes need a surprisingly sparse amount of sleep. Can you imagine going through finals on just 5 to 30 minutes a day?
- The Real Roadrunners
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They might not have a cartoon facing off against a coyote, but their speed is still very impressive. Wouldn’t you love to see a giraffe sprinting around a track at 35 mph?
- So Much Love to Give
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Should it come as a surprise that giraffes have huge hearts? Literally huge hearts weighing over 24 pounds on average.
- Hitting the Ground Running
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Once a giraffe is born, they don’t need a lot of time to get started. These mini giraffes can be seen running around just an hour after being introduced to the world.
- Eating Machines
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These are hungry creatures! They take in approximately 75 pounds of nutrients a day, in mostly leaves from Acacia trees.
- Wonky Walking
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Giraffes have a peculiar way of getting around. Instead of the traditional walking seen by other members of the animal kingdom, giraffes walk around by using the legs on each side of the body at a time. If you can spare a few minutes, I would definitely recommend watching a video of group of giraffes walking around!
Giraffes are incredible creatures, and it doesn’t take long to fall in love with them. Unfortunately, giraffes are going through what some scientists have described as a “silent extinction“. We can appreciate them while they’re still here, but there is also a lot we can do to protect them. The biggest threats to the survival of this species include deforestation, habitat loss, and poaching. We all need to do our part and support conservation groups and their efforts in protecting giraffes, and other vulnerable creatures.