giraffeThe giraffe is well known for its graceful and flowing movements – a strange looking beast, yet somehow so poised and elegant. We hear little about these stately creatures so it may surprise you to know that at least two of the nine sub-species of giraffe are in peril right now. In fact there are currently less than 220 West African giraffe (up from a low from a low of 50 individuals in 2007) and less than 700 Rothschild giraffe in the wild.

The giraffe has only one real predator in the wild - the lion. It is man, however, who has proved the biggest threat to the giraffe. Seeking the giraffe for its meat, its hide and its long black tail hairs. As a result the giraffe is becoming far less abundant in the wild and is now only safe within the confines of game parks and sanctuaries, where they are protected.

Video: The last giraffe in West Africa


Giraffe Facts:

  • The giraffe is an agile and surefooted mover, with the ability to achieve speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Half the speed of the fastest land animal the cheetah, which can run as fast as 120 kilometres per hour.
  • An adult male giraffe can weigh up to 1,200 kilograms, which is equivalent to 17 average size men.
  • Female giraffe give birth standing up, its young falling more than 1.5 metres to the ground at birth. The average height of a person is 2 metres.
  • A giraffe can consume up to 34 kilograms of food each day, ten times what an average human eats in one day.
  • Giraffes only need to drink water once every several days and get most of their water from the luscious plants they eat.
  • Giraffes are the world’s tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks. The giraffe legs alone are taller than most humans, which is about 6 feet.
  • The giraffe heart is the biggest of any animal, weighing about 10 kilograms.
  • The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, which is between ten minutes and two hours in a 24-hour period, averaging 1.9 hours per day. Whereas the average human needing 7-8 hours per day.
  • While no two individual giraffes have exactly the same pattern, giraffes from the same area appear similar.
  • There are about 9 different sub-species, or breeds, of giraffe.

giraffe

How to help save the giraffe

In an effort to highlight the plight and of giraffes and to also to help prevent their ultimate demise, an eco-conscious Australian clothing company named giraffeLine has been set up to help save the endangered giraffe. You can help by purchasing their recycled retro range or their resort wear for women using eco-friendly fabric. A percentage of every order will be given to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), helping to secure a future for all giraffe populations and sub species in the wild.

Links:
www.giraffeline.com
Giraffe Conservation Foundation website

Also see the non-profit organisations section of our directory.

Written by Michaela Enoka
[Disclosure: Michaela Enoka is the Creative Director of giraffeLine)

Editing by Suze Chalmers

Image Credits:
Main image – William Warby via Flickr Creative Commons
Second image – Rothschild Giraffe by Thomas Vogler via Flickr Creative Commons