Giraffes

While driving to Manyaro National Park in Tanzania, we came across our first giraffes.

Giraffes, a symbol of Tanzania, are Athumani's favorite animal and it's easy to see why. They are non-territorial and sociable, living in loose, open herds without leaders. Their peerless height and excellent eyesight enables visual contact between herd members spread over several kilometers.

Acacia tree leaves are the favored food of these giraffes. Species of acacia have evolved various defenses including long sharp thorns. So giraffes evolved 45 cm long prehensile tongues to pluck the tender leaves from amongst the thorns. This, along with their height, enables them to feed on trees that other animals can't touch. It was fascinating to watch these giraffes methodically strip the trees of green. Giraffes can go weeks without stooping in a vulnerable splayed position to drink at water holes, relying on morning dew and the water content of food instead.

Females have two horns, topped with a tuft of hair. A mother giraffe often gives birth while standing so that the newborn's welcome to life is a 2 meter drop! While adult giraffes are too large (males weigh up to 1,900 kg, females up to 1,200 kg) and strong legged to be regular prey, over 50 percent of calves are taken by lions or hyenas. And, contrary to what the giraffe told the Jewish lion, giraffe meat is kosher.

Males have three or more hairless horns. Males forage higher in trees than cow giraffes which reduces food competition between the sexes. This bull has two oxpeckers on his neck and one above his right foreleg. These helpful birds eat insects off the backs of large animals.