10 Incredible Facts About Giraffes

Giraffes are one of the world’s most amazing animals. They are a part of the Giraffidae family, with the only other member being the okapi. These even-toed ungulates tower over all other animals and are the world’s tallest living mammals at heights of nearly 20 feet. Once ranging widely across Africa, today they are primarily found in sub-Saharan regions with open woodlands and savannas. A giraffe’s height is extraordinary, but there are other amazing things to learn about this animal. Here are 10 incredible giraffe facts that you should know.

1. A Giraffe’s Neck Can Reach 6 Feet Long

A giraffe’s neck is one of its most notable features and can weigh as much as 600 pounds. The length of each giraffe’s neck varies, but it is typically about 6 feet long. This allows the animal to reach tall leaves in the trees and scan the area for nearby predators.

Male giraffes can even be observed “necking,” which is fighting by swinging their large necks at each other. Humans and giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrae, but each of a giraffe’s neck vertebrae can reach over 10 inches in length.

2. Giraffes Have the Highest Blood Pressure of Any Land Mammal

Giraffes have the highest blood pressure of any land mammal. Some sources state that a giraffe’s blood pressure can reach as high as 280/180mmHg. To have a normal blood pressure of 110/70 in their brains, their hearts have to pump hard enough to overcome gravity. Fortunately, their powerful hearts have muscle walls of over 3 inches thick.

The optimum blood pressure for humans is around 120/80 mmHg, so by human standards, giraffes have deadly hypertension. This would result in kidney damage or heart failure in humans. However, giraffes have evolutionary adaptations that develop as their necks elongate to prevent the effects of hypertension.

3. Giraffes Can Run Up to 35 Miles Per Hour

Giraffes are fast for their large size. They can reach a top speed of nearly 35 mph for short distances. This is faster than some horses. Even their walking speed is a quick 10mph. The average human walking speed is only around 3mph. Giraffes’ speed helps them avoid predators, and their powerful hearts and circulatory systems make it possible to continue pumping blood to their brains during rapid motion.

4. Baby Giraffes Are 6 Feet Tall at Birth

Giraffe calves are typically around 6 feet in height at birth. The mother gives birth while standing up. The baby giraffe falls, front feet first, 4-6 feet to the ground, breaking the umbilical cord. The calves can stand within about 30 minutes, and they can walk within an hour. Their height allows them to nurse as soon as they can stand.

5. Giraffes Can Survive on 5-30 Minutes of Sleep a Day

Compared to other animals, giraffes can survive on an extremely small amount of sleep. Giraffes in the wild only need between 5 and 30 minutes of sleep per day. They take short naps of just a few minutes at a time throughout the day. They generally sleep standing up, but they do occasionally lie down, resting their heads on their own rumps.

6. Giraffes Eat Up to 75 Pounds of Food a Day 

Adult female giraffes weigh as much as 1,500 pounds, while males weigh up to 3,000 pounds. Such large animals need a great deal of fuel to survive. Giraffes eat up to 75 pounds of food a day, mostly leaves from trees like the acacia. Giraffes will spend around 16-20 hours a day eating.

7. Giraffes Are Amazing Pollinators

Few people know that giraffes are one of Africa’s greatest pollinators. Like bees, they transfer pollen from tree to tree. Pollen gets stuck on their bodies and is then transferred to the next plant while they eat. Acacia leaves and flowers are their preferred food, so they spend most of their day eating from and pollinating acacia trees.

8. Giraffes Can Go 21 Days Without Drinking Water

A giraffe can go as long as 21 days to a month without drinking water. This is because they get most of the water they need from the acacia leaves they eat. When a giraffe does drink, it can consume as much as 10 gallons in one sitting. Their necks are not long enough for them to reach the ground to drink, so they must spread their legs and lean down.

9. Giraffes Live in Groups Called Towers

Giraffes live together in large groups called towers. Each tower typically has around 10 to 20 members, though larger groups can occasionally form. Each group is different and may consist of all females, all males, or a mix of both. Members of the tower can come and go as they please. A large group of giraffes is better equipped to handle predators.

10. Each Giraffe Has a Unique Spot Pattern

One of the giraffe’s most distinctive features is its spots. Each giraffe has a unique pattern of spots, similar to a human’s fingerprints. Spots are also one of the main factors in identifying different subspecies. Giraffes that live together also use these spot patterns to tell family members apart. Giraffes inherit their unique spot patterns from their mothers.