Giraffes are one of the world’s most easily recognised animals with their long necks and long legs, but the markings on the coats of each sub-species vary, helping to differentiate one type of giraffe from another. The Masai Giraffe, found in south Kenya and Tanzania, for instance, has star-shaped brown spots in an irregular formation on a light buff background, while the Reticulated Giraffe which inhabits north Kenya, has larger chestnut patches outlined in white. Another sub-species, the Rothschild’s Giraffe lives in west Kenya and parts of Uganda, and can be distinguished from the Reticulated Giraffe by the expanse of the white dividing lines between its patches.

These are social mammals which gather in generally non-territorial groups. Sometimes groups of males can be found roaming together. They frequently spar with one another but real conflict only usually occurs when males are vying for the attention of a female with which to mate. Females are sexually mature at about four years old. They give birth standing up, with the calf literally ‘dropping’ down to earth with a bump. They are weaned at about a year old but remain close to their mothers for nearly two years. Calves are particularly vulnerable to predatory big cats and wild dogs and a high proportion are killed within a few months of being born.

A giraffe’s neck has only the same number of individual bones as a human’s neck but their bones are larger and their necks are more flexible because of an intricate ball and socket joint mechanism which links the vertebrae.

Threats

Habitat loss due to agricultural development.

Poaching for meat and for their skins.

Hunting – they were once killed for their tails which was used for making fly swats, for good luck charms and for use as a sewing thread.

_{info from chesterzoo.org}


Photography






















Traditional Art







Digital Art