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Do you know all about giraffe? (Infographic) (Quiz)
Giraffe can grow to 16 feet (5 metres) tall. They are quite social, largely silent, and appear gentle – yet their kick can kill a lion!
What would Africa be without the giraffe? Beautiful, yet awkward, the world’s tallest animal fascinates us all. Just looking at them makes us wonder: how tall are they? How do they give birth? What are those horn-looking things on their heads? What sound do they make? And so much more!
These odd-looking animals certainly stand out from the crowd, but did you know that they are in danger? They have recently been listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The gentle giants of the African savannah have been taken for granted for too long – even scientists haven’t studied them as much as other large African mammals until recently.
Our giraffe infographic is a one-stop spot to find out all about giraffe – what they eat, where they live, how big they are, their family matters, and what you can do to help conserve them.
You can also take our giraffe facts quiz at the bottom of the page if you want to test your knowledge!
Read the stats from the giraffe infographic below!
African giraffe fact file
Population: 97,500 (40% decline in the past 30 years)
Scientific name: Giraffa camelopardalis
Size (Adult): 5.7m tall from the ground to their horns
Weight (Adult): 800 - 1000kg
Max speed: Up to 56kph
Habitat: Areas of savannah woodland, forest, shrubland, and semi-desert only in Africa
Life span: 10 to 15 years in the wild. Recorded a maximum of 30 years
Sound: Giraffes rarely make a sound in the wild but will grunt or snort when alarmed or chased
Where can giraffes be found?
- Angola
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Central Africa Republic
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Did you know?
- A group of giraffes is called a journey when they are moving, or a tower when they are standing still.
- There's only 1 species of giraffe and 9 subspecies, but new genetic studies suggest that there could be 4 distinct species and 5 subspecies.
- A giraffe's tongue is 45 - 50cm long and is bluish-purple.
- After 457 days of pregnancy, giraffes give birth standing up. The calf will drop about a metre but will be able to stand upright within an hour.
- Giraffes lie down by folding their legs under their bodies and their back legs forward. They mostly nap standing upright.
- Giraffes do not mate for life and usually associate with each other giraffes in loose social groups.
- Giraffes' horns are called ossicones. They're bony extensions of their skulls that are covered in skin. Males usually have bald tops on their ossicones, and females have furry tufts.
- Males fight each other for dominance by swinging their heads into each other's flanks, which is why their ossicones are bald! This is called 'necking'.
- Giraffes mostly eat leaves, but will occasionally chew/suck bones to obtain minerals. This is called 'osteophagy'.
Volunteer with giraffes at African Conservation Experience
Learn more about giraffe conservation in their natural habitat with an unforgettable 'on the ground' experience at African Conservation Experience.
As a volunteer on our Okavango Wilderness Project, you'll join an Intrepid team of conservationists in their spectacular surroundings. You can become a part of the giraffe monitoring effort and help collect data on their population in the Okavango.
To find out more, visit the Okavango Wilderness Project!
How much do you know about giraffes?
Take our quiz all about giraffes and find out just how much you know about these wonderful creatures.
How tall is an adult male giraffe?
How much does a giraffe weigh?
How fast can a giraffe run?
What sound does a giraffe make?
How long can giraffes live in the wild?
What is the giraffe's conservation status?
Where do giraffes live?
Do giraffes mate for life?
How long are giraffes pregnant?
How do giraffes give birth?
What is a baby giraffe called?
Do giraffes sleep lying down or standing?
What do giraffes eat?
How long is a giraffe's tongue?
What colour is a giraffe's tongue?
What are a giraffe's horns called?
What do giraffes use their horns for?
What is it called when giraffes fight?
What are a group of giraffes called?
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Giraffe quiz questions and answers
How tall is a giraffe?
Adult males, up to 5 metres; Adult females, up to 4.5 metres.
How much does a giraffe weigh?
800 - 1000kg
How fast can a giraffe run?
Up to 56 kilometres per hour
What sound does a giraffe make?
Giraffe rarely make a sound in the wild but will grunt or snort when alarmed or chased.
How long do giraffes live?
They can live up to 25 years in the wild
Are giraffes endangered?
Their status, according to the IUCN is Vulnerable. Scientists estimate that there are 68,000 of them left in the world, and their numbers are decreasing.
Where do giraffes live?
Only in Africa, in areas of savannah woodland, forest, shrubland, and semi-desert. They currently live in these African countries: Angola; Botswana; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Ethiopia; Kenya; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe.
How many types of giraffe are there?
There is officially only one species of giraffe and nine subspecies, although new genetic studies suggest that these could be four distinct species and five subspecies.
Do giraffes mate for life?
No, males and females usually associate with each other in loose social groups. When she is receptive, the female will allow a particular male to mate with her. She does not necessarily always choose the same one.
How do giraffes mate?
Much like other mammals, the male mounts the female.
How long are giraffes pregnant?
457 days
How do giraffes give birth?
Standing up, so the calf will drop about a metre to the ground. Despite the long drop, giraffe calves can stand up within an hour of being born.
What is a baby giraffe called?
A calf – they are 1.5m tall and 100kg at birth.
How do giraffes lay down?
By folding their front legs under their bodies and their back legs forwards.
How do giraffes sleep?
They may sleep for a few minutes while lying down, but most of the time they take a nap while standing upright.
What do giraffes eat?
Mostly leaves, their favourite being the small green leaves on thorn trees. They will occasionally chew or suck on bones to obtain minerals as a supplement to their usual leafy diet.
How long is a giraffe’s tongue?
45 - 50cm
What colour is a giraffe’s tongue?
Bluish-purple
How do giraffes drink?
They spread their legs out to either side to drink, however, they do not need to drink regularly.
What are a giraffe’s horns called?
Ossicones – bony extensions of their skulls that are covered in skin. Male giraffe usually have bald tops on their ossicones, whereas females have furry tufts.
What do giraffes use their horns for?
Male giraffe fight each other for dominance by swinging their heads into each other’s flanks, which is why their ossicones are bald! This behaviour is called “necking”.
What is a group of giraffes called?
They often occur in loose social groups of males and/or females – a group of giraffe is known as a “journey” when they are moving, or a “tower” when they are standing still.
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