South African giraffe

South African giraffe

Scientific name: Giraffa giraffa camelopardalis
Situation in the wild: Common
The Jerusalem Zoo: Breeding herd
In the Bible: It is suggested that the Biblical name "Zemer" refers to the Giraffe
The habitat distribution area of the Giraffes are savannahs of Central and South Africa. In these areas the Giraffes feed mainly on leaves and branches of trees, which they are reach using their long necks. This way they avoid competing for food with other animals, since only a few can reach those branches. But despite a lack of competition for food, Giraffes have yet to go long distances in search of enough food. They feed on more than 100 species of plants. They spend up to 20 hours a day eating, during which they eat up to 65 kilos! Just like the deer, the Giraffe has four stomachs, and it regurgitates its food. In order to collect the leaves and flowers from the tree, the Giraffe uses its exceptionally long tongue (about 40 cm) that grips the branch and removes the delicious leaves. Giraffes have also specialized in eating the thorny branches of the Acacia trees common in the African savanna. The long and muscular tongue and the large amounts of thick mucus that is secreted helps them protect their mouths while chewing thorny branches. Giraffe drinking every 3 days, but can go for weeks without drinking any water. Fluid accumulated in plants and dew in the morning provides the amount of water needed. If they encounter a water reserve, they will drink up to 12 liters at one time. But drinking is an act that endangers the Giraffe, and they must be extra vigilant whilst bending their neck. Due to the unique structure of the long front legs, the Giraffes have to spread their front legs and bow their heads. In this position it is difficult for them to kick or even flee a predator. For this reason, Giraffes take turns, some of the herd drink and others guard the area, using their developed sense of sight and height, to spot predators from far away.
The Giraffe is of course the tallest animal in the world. The males reach a height of about 6 meters and females are about 5 meters tall. Their necks only measure 2.4 meters! Giraffes have a unique pattern of spots on their body and the Greek name for Giraffe meaning "Camel spotted like a Leopard". Each individual has a unique pattern, like fingerprints of humans.
Giraffes adults walk for many kilometers a day in search of food supplementing its huge body. Males can reach a weight of two tons and the weight of the female Giraffe is about a ton. Giraffes can reach the age of 25 years. They are born at a height of six feet and weigh a hundred kilos after a pregnancy of 15 months. The females reach sexual maturity at the age of four years but males will mate for the first time at a much older age, because of male competition.
Males will fight each other for the attention for the females. Battles are conducted by combining and jostling their long necks and fighting with their neck, head and horns. Yes, Giraffes have horns, like many of their horned relatives. Horns of Giraffes are actually extensions of the skull bone and skin covered with hair at the tips of the horns. Despite their size, Giraffes are often attacked by lions, with the Lions taking a big risk for well-aimed kick could kill them, the main method of self-defense Giraffes use. To increase their chances to capture a Giraffes, lions will try to attack them in their weakest moment - when they drink. Another weak moment for Giraffes is when they sleep, so - they almost never sleep. Giraffes sleep at the most - half an hour a day and their sleep is divided into several short periods of deep sleep, and they do not sleep standing up! They sleep lounging, with long necks resting on their bodies.
The Giraffes' breeding season lasts throughout the year, but especially during the rainy season. Gestation is 15 months after which one calf is born. Shortly before birth, the female leaves the herd, to search for a soft grassy surface on which the calf falls, from a height of 2 meters. A day or two after birth, the female and her offspring go back to the herd. Giraffes at birth are about 2 meters tall!
The Giraffe's sense of hearing and vision are well developed, and this way they keep in touch with the rest of the herd. In is not uncommon to see a herd that extends the distance of a mile. Many people believe giraffes mute, but actually, they can make many sounds: snoring, snorting, grunting, braying, bleating and more.
Although there is only one species of Giraffe, there are eight sub-species identified, differing mainly in spot pattern and color stains. Here at the Zoo we have the South-African Giraffe. This sub-species is included in the breeding program of the European Organization of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and we pride ourselves in our contribution to the breeding efforts to breed this species, with many calves born at the Jerusalem Zoo. Here, at the Zoo, we have a small herd of males, females and their offspring. You can see them at the African yard opposite Noah's Ark.

 (Photo: Guy Olami)