Giraffe Pictures and Facts

Page 5

Fact: The giraffe gets its name from the Arabic word "Xirapha," which means, "one who walks swiftly." Giraffes not only walk swiftly, but they run swiftly, as well. They have been recorded running as fast as 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour)! To put that in perspective, humans run on average 10 miles an hour (16 kilometers). Since giraffes tire easily, they are unable to sustain these high speeds for very long, but can use these brief spurts of speed to help evade predators, such as lions. Source: Department of Tourism of Botswana

A rather sleepy looking giraffe.
Image Source: Kenneth Stansell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Fact: It's difficult to catch a giraffe while its sleeping, simply because he gets so little of it! Ever vigilant for predators, giraffes just sleep for a few minutes at a time, and usually only get about 30 minutes total in a single day. Source: BBC

Giraffes enjoy a beautiful African sunset.
Image Source: Gary M. Stolz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Fact: Ever wonder why trees on the Serengeti and other areas in Africa often look flat? This is because giraffes have eaten all the leaves within their reach, and left the ones near the top of the tree, giving it a "flat" appearance. A giraffe uses its 17 inch (45 centimeter) tongue and its lips to pull the leaves off trees and then digest the food in its four chambered stomach. Source: ZooBooks, Giraffes