Rothschild's giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)

What do I eat?

Giraffe are browsers, eating mainly leaves. They feed from up to 93 different plant species, but often prefer to forage (look for food) in acacia trees. Giraffe do not need to drink water every day. They can survive for a long time without drinking because they get their water from their food and dew on the plants.

Giraffe are herbivores; they will feed on up to 100 different species of plants within their habitat, and will use their 45cm black tongue to bring the food in to their mouths.

Being so tall helps the giraffe to reach leaves that other plant eating animals cannot get to. Giraffe will get most of the moisture they need from their diet, but will need to drink every 2-3 days.

Where do I live?

Giraffe are found in many countries in southern and eastern Africa, and in smaller populations in west and central Africa. The Rothschild's subspecies are found in south Sudan, north Uganda and west Kenya. They live mainly in savannah and woodland habitats.

Breeding

Giraffe are able to breed from about 4 years old. Their pregnancies last for 15 months. Newborn giraffes weigh about 100kg, are about 180cm tall and nearly double in height in their first year! Giraffe calves are ready to stand and suckle within an hour of being born. They are usually weaned by 12 months old, but can start eating solid food from a few weeks of age. Females with calves may get together and form a nursery. This means the mothers can take turns to feed while the calves play together.

Predators

Young giraffe are known to be hunted by lions, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs. Adult giraffe, with their strong legs and hooves, are capable of killing predators such as lions.

Giraffe can spot predators from up to a kilometre away, thanks to their long necks and excellent eyesight. Giraffe are often seen with other savannah species such as zebra and wildebeest, which may use them as an early warning system to detect danger.

Conservation

Giraffe face a number of threats in the wild. These include habitat loss; civil unrest (such as ethnic violence and armed conflict) and illegal hunting for their meat and hide.