Nubian giraffe

There are various subspecies of giraffe, and each has a different colouration and pattern of coat. Nubian giraffes have large chestnut-coloured patches outlined by a broader white line than that of other giraffe subspecies, and they have no spotting beneath the knees. They have a short brown mane that runs the length of their necks.

Giraffes are born with two horn-like structures on their heads, known as ossicones, which grow to about 13 centimetres long; however, Nubian giraffes have an extra three, one small one on their forehead and a further small pair behind their ears. Females have thin ossicones with tufts of hair on the top, whereas males tend to have thicker horns that are bald on top, due to fighting.

A giraffe walks with both legs on one side lifted simultaneously. This type of walk is known as a “pace” and allows longer strides, and helps to conserve energy.

Giraffes are browsers with a long, prehensile tongue measuring up to 45 cm, which helps them reach and pull leaves from trees. They can spend 16-20 hours feeding on the leaves and shoots of more than 100 plant species, primarily Acacia and Combretum. Their tough tongues and lips allow them to feed on thorny Acacia without injury, and they face little competition for food. Males often feed higher with their necks stretched vertically, while females tend to feed on lower vegetation.

Giraffes do not migrate because they obtain most of their moisture from their diet, although they will drink when water is available. Special valves in the blood vessels of their long necks prevent blood from rushing to the head when they bend down to drink, and their highly efficient digestive system allows them to absorb maximum nutrients from their food.

Male giraffes establish dominance through a behaviour known as “necking,” where they swing their necks and strike one another with their heads. This can be gentle between a dominant bull and a juvenile, but clashes between strong adult males can be aggressive and may result in serious injury.

Giraffes can mate year-round, and after a 14 -15 month gestation, females give birth standing up to a single calf. Newborns can stand within 20 minutes and are around 1.8 metres tall. Calves begin running and playing within hours, but spend their first two weeks resting under close maternal protection. During their first year, they grow rapidly and are weaned at approximately 1 year of age. Females often stay near their mothers for life, while males leave at around three years old to join bachelor groups, typically not breeding successfully until around seven due to competition.

Giraffe are a very sociable species and they are not territorial. They will form loose herds that have no permanent members within variable home ranges. Adult females that have young tend to associate more with one another as the calves will tend to form crèches and stay close together. Males tend to leave their mothers at three years of age and they will usually form a roaming bachelor herd until they are dominant enough to breed.

Giraffes are listed as critically endangered due to a range of threats, including habitat loss, human agriculture, and hunting. In the wild, giraffes also face natural predation from species such as lions, which can further impact population numbers. Together, these factors have contributed to significant declines in giraffe populations.