Bush Fact #2 - Giraffe

 

Giraffa camelopardis

 

Always a big favourite on any safari, the Giraffe is an interesting character. Well documented adaptations include a very long neck and very long tongue (about 45cm). These adaptations however go a little deeper than just the obvious in order to ensure they still have the edge on the competition.
 

Giraffe have a modified joint in the head/neck which allows them to straighten the head vertically for even more height enabling them to reach the topmost branches of trees. So how do they deal with a “head rush” after drinking water? In short, they have a net venation system around the brain that helps slow down blood rushing down to the body when they lift their head after a drink.
 

Two genus of trees form the bulk of the Giraffes diet namely Bushwillow’s and Acacia’s. Luckily these trees are very common in our area resulting in endless sightings of Giraffe. Acacia’s have nasty thorns to protect their nutritious leaves but Giraffes are adequately adapted to overcome this problem. They have a prehensile top lip enabling avoidance of thorns, long eye-lashes protects the eyes when the head is in the canopy of the tree and slit like nostrils reduce the surface area and prevents thorns getting stuck in its nose.

Giraffe also have to deal with plants giving off a chemical defence and therefore live in loose herds spread over a large area. When one Giraffe is feeding off a plant giving off tannins in defence it does not affect another feeding Giraffe. As long as they can see the other members of the herd, they are quite happy. This instinct is also beautifully played out with Giraffe calves. When they are still very young, they stay close to the mother and a gradual increase in the distance between cow and calf is noticed over time. Male calves remain in the maternal herd for only about three years and then leave to join a bachelor herd, eventually leaving the natal home range permanently. Females will sometimes leave the maternal herd but will remain in the original home range.

 

 

Darren Roberts-York

 

All photo's taken with a Nikon Coolpix P510