Information On Giraffes Page 3

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Giraffe Habitat

Giraffes live in flat grassy areas like African savannah, scrubland, and open acacia woodlands south of the Sahara.

Behavior

Female giraffes associate in groups of a dozen or so members, occasionally including a few younger males. Males tend to live in "bachelor" herds, with older males often leading solitary lives. 

The males often engage in necking, which has been described as having various functions. One of these is combat. These battles can be fatal, but are more often less severe. The longer a neck is, and the heavier the head at the end of the neck, the greater force a giraffe will be able to deliver in a blow.

Newborn giraffe are 6 feet tall, and can run 35 mph.  For the first four to five months, calves congregate in nursery groups called creches to rest and socialize while mothers forage in the distance.

Giraffes are thought to be mute; however, although generally quiet, they have been heard to grunt, snort and bleat. Recent research has shown evidence that the animal communicates at an infrasound level.

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