The Large mammals of africa

Giraffe

Giraffe camelopardarlis sp.

The tallest animal in Africa with a long neck and long legs, the giraffe is unmistakable. The giraffe of Africa are classified into eight subspecies taken from the patterning and the secluded distribution of the animals.

Distribution Despite their range having shrunk due to human impact, giraffe still have a wide distribution in sub-saharan Africa and are still abundant in many areas.

Social structure Giraffe have a very loose social structure with individuals of both sexes moving freely from group to group. There is no hierarchical structure although males will face off with each other to establish dominance within a group of males. These displays are normally over in a short time, although they can carry on for hours and at times turn nasty.

Range differentiation The giraffe of Africa are classified into eight subspecies. These sub-classifications are taken from the patterning and the secluded distribution of the animals. The reticulated giraffe of east Africa has the most distinctive markings of all whereas the southern giraffe has the greatest variety of patterning. The Thornicroft’s giraffe of Zambia is sub-classified due to its distribution not overlapping with any other sub-species (it also has a slight variation in patterning).

Habitat Occur in the open savanna woodland areas and in semi-desert areas such as Namibia and the Kalahari in Botswana. It is believed that water is essential for the survival of giraffe. However, in Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve I have observed giraffe in areas where no drinking water was available.

Feeding With a reach of 13 meters and a flexible nine-inch (45cm) tongue the giraffe is able to eat leaves that other animals cannot reach. The tongue also allows it to reach shoots on thorny acacia trees, manoeuvring it around the dangers. Giraffe are predominantly browsers been able to reach the leaves at the tops of trees that other animals can’t reach.

Breeding Mating involves a lengthy courtship of shoving and scenting before an awkward looking mount ensues. Young are born after a fifteen-month gestation period and the female drops her calf while standing up. The calves can walk within an hour of birth. The calves will stay in what can best be described as a daycare with other young ones and will be protected by all the adults that are in the area at the time.

Giraffe have a valve in the neck that prevents blood rushing to the head when it is drinking.

As with many other herbivores ox-peckers are constant companions of giraffe.

The reticulated giraffe of east Africa have the most distinctive patterning of all the sub-species.

Communication

It was previously thought that giraffe were non-vocal and that because of their loose social structure communication was not important but this has since been found to be incorrect. Young ones will emit low mew-like sounds. Adults make a variety of alarm calls, from grunts to hisses.

Predators

A large percentage of young giraffe (some studies show as high as 75%) will be killed by predators such as hyenas and lions. Adults are also preyed upon by lions. [p]Giraffe possess a powerful kick that has inflicted bodily damage to many predators. I have observed a lion that had its jaw broken by the kick of a giraffe. Unable to eat with a broken jaw, the lion eventually finally died of starvation.

Dominance

In a group where more than one male giraffe is present, males will constantly test one other for dominance by facing off. These ‘face-offs’ will sometime arise in a fight where the combatants will attempt to hit each other using the neck and head. These fights are normally over before serious injuries occur. There are rare instances when one will suffer a broken neck or even die. These fights can be heard from a distance when blows become very serious.

Meat-eating herbivores

Giraffe have been known to gnaw on bones they find in the bush. This behaviour is explained as a calcium deficiency in the giraffe and they gnaw on bones as a supplement.

There's one bush legend that speaks of a certain guide who loved to spin yarns to his guests. The guide once told the story of the man-eating giraffe, using his creative storytelling to spice up the story. On a game drive some time after this, his group came across a giraffe gnawing on a bone. The guests became increasingly nervous, particularly when the animal started walking toward the vehicle, much to the storytelling guides amusement

Art of drinking

Giraffe will take their time when moving toward a water source. When they arrive at the water they will once again spend a great deal of time looking around, stepping away and generally looking unsure.

When they finally do bend down to drink the stance they take is either with legs bent at the knees or knees locked (straight legged). If they perceive a disturbance they will flick their heads up quickly in a forward motion, spraying water from their mouths. Giraffes have a valve system which prevents blood rushing to the brainwhen they are drinking.

The giraffe that braved an elephant

There was one instance in the Okavango in which a giraffe was feeding on some acacias and minding its own business when an elephant approached, also busily feeding. It turned out that the elephant was heading for the same trees as the giraffe. As the elephant got closer the giraffe moved a step forward as if to block its path. The two stood face to face for more than fifteen minutes before the elephant moved off in another direction.

Questions

How many vertebrae does a giraffe have?

Because of its exceptionally long neck this is a very common question. The answer is a disappointing one: the same as all other mammals, they are just a little bit longer.

Whilst standing up a giraffe can twist its neck around reach under its tail and lick its anus! Is this the only mammal that can do this standing up?

Yes

Giraffe chew on bones to relieve a calcium deficiency in their diets.

Male giraffe tussle for dominance within a group using thier necks and heads as weapons.

Mating in giraffe can be a lengthy and ungainly affair

With its long neck the giraffe has the ability to lick its rear end whilst standing up.

Readers Comments

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Three years ago I had the pleasure of staying at an amazingly beautiful private game reserve called Botlierskop. Whilst on a 3 hour guided game drive, which rendered my camera's very impressive zoom function somewhat useless as we got so close to all the wildlife (especially the underwear changing proximity to a herd of buffalo), we came across a giraffe with a liking in something I would think to be an acquired taste to say the very least.

The display started off with two males play fighting, their necks twisting and whipping around with astonishing flexibility. I was surprised those long lanky looking things didn't snap right off. The older male had the upper hoof though with a few extra wildlife wrestling tricks up his long sleeve, getting the younger off balance by hooking its hind leg with his head and then lifting to heights that would make most yoga class attendees scream out in agony. All this stretching must have played havoc on the younger one's full bladder, as he quickly called time out and began to relieve himself.

That's when the larger male, all casual and stuff, leans over and starts sipping away as if it were a little stream of orange juice. Naturally a few suppressed giggles came from the motley crew of tourists, but no one braved the question, "Hey, what the hell is that one slurping up pee for?" I know there wasn't a water shortage, because it had been raining for a few days prior, and enjoyable it must have been because he was licking his chops like a five year old after ice-cream.

So this question remains lingering in the back bush paths of my brain? Can that be normal?

Its always exciting to see wild animals unexpectedly and a lesson to expect the unexpected when traveling around. See what greeted us on the way to a wedding in the Eastern Cape, South Africa recently – we were very excited to see them, but God knows what they thought of us!