Giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest animal in the whole world. A grown giraffe can stand between about four and six metres tall, which is as high as a small house. It has a very long neck, long legs, and a coat covered in patches. Giraffes live in Africa, mostly on grassy plains and in open woodlands where trees are dotted about.

A giraffe’s long neck helps it reach leaves high up in the trees, where most other animals cannot feed. It also has a long, dark tongue, about 45 centimetres long, that can wrap around branches and pick off leaves. Giraffes especially like the leaves of acacia trees, and they also nibble twigs, shrubs, and fruit. A giraffe eats a lot of leaves each and every day.

Every giraffe has its very own pattern of patches, and no two giraffes look exactly the same. The patches can be orange, brown, or nearly black, with lighter lines running between them. These patterns help giraffes blend in among the trees and shade. On top of a giraffe’s head are two little bumps covered in skin and hair, called ossicones.

Giraffes are friendly animals that often gather in loose groups. The group can be just a few giraffes or many more, and giraffes come and go so the group keeps changing. Mothers and their young often stay close together. Because giraffes are so tall and can give a strong kick, grown giraffes are usually safe from most other animals.

Sadly, there are fewer giraffes in the wild than there used to be, so scientists count them as vulnerable. The main reasons are that their wild land is being lost and some giraffes are hunted. National parks and local people are helping to protect giraffes and the countryside they need to live.