the tallest animals

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. Males can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall, females can reach 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall. The young, known as calves, are 6 feet (1.9 meters) tall at birth and weigh about 150 pounds (68 kilograms). Giraffes generally inhabit the African savannahs, grasslands or open forests.

Fun facts

• Giraffe spots darken over the years.
• The giraffe’s tongue is dark blue in color and very thick to protect it from sunburn and the prickly leaves of the acacia tree, its favorite food.
• Giraffes feed on the leaves of trees, thanks to their height they can easily pull the leaves off the tallest trees.
• The giraffe is a ruminant, to feed, it first chews the leaves and after swallowing, a ball of undigested leaves returns down the throat to the mouth to be chewed again.
• Due to the size of its neck, when drinking, the giraffe must kneel or open its front legs to get its head to reach the water. This can be very dangerous as it makes it vulnerable to attack by lions and other predators.
• The giraffe kicks its predators, this kick is often deadly.
• Giraffe calves drink their mother’s milk and stay with her for a year.
• Giraffes move in herds or groups to protect themselves from predators.
• Thanks to their height and excellent eyesight, giraffes are the first to spot predators. When giraffes start to run, other animals like zebras and antelopes follow them.