A group of five giraffe in Amboseli, Kenya, walking across dry ground in front of a row of bushes

Giraffes

Giraffe camelopardalis

Why are giraffes important?

Giraffes are known as keystone species, which means they have a significant impact on the habitat they live in.

By browsing high up vegetation, they promote growth of plants and trees, creating microhabitats for other species. Through their dung and urine, they help distribute nutrients throughout their habitat.

Key Giraffe Facts

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IUCN STATUS

Vulnerable

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POPULATION

~68,293* mature individuals, declining ️- with small populations in West and Central Africa seriously threatened; last assessed in 2016

* According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

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DIET

Herbivorous

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HABITAT

Open woodlands, wooded grasslands and savannah

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RANGE

Mostly eastern and southern Africa, although small, isolated populations exist in western and central Afica

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SIZE

Height – 4-5.2 m, weight – 700-1400kg

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THREATS

Habitat loss, hunting and poaching, captivity

A family of adult and juvenile giraffe standing in a group

Did you know?!

A giraffe’s spots are completely unique to each individual, much like our fingerprints. We can use their spot pattern to identify them!

How to recognise giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest land animal in the world – a male giraffe stands up to 5.5m high and weighs nearly two tonnes. However, size differs between males and females, who are generally smaller at an average of 4.3m.

Despite its long neck, the giraffe only has seven neck vertebrae – the same number as humans and nearly all other mammals – the bones are simply extremely elongated.

Giraffes also have a distinctive feature on their head – horn-like protuberances called ossicones. Ossicones are permanent ossified cartilage that appear on both males and females. Males use their ossicones as weapons when fighting and it is believed that the ossicones may play a role in giraffe sexual behaviour.

Giraffes are strong and fast. A well-placed kick could shatter the skull of a predatory lion, while a running giraffe can reach speeds in excess of 55km per hour!

There are currently nine sub-species of giraffe recognised by the IUCN, in Africa (the West African giraffe, the Nubian giraffe, the Kordofan giraffe, the Masai giraffe, Thornicroft’s giraffe, Rothschild’s giraffe, Angolan giraffe, South African giraffe and the reticulated giraffe), each with distinctive patchwork markings believed to have evolved as a camouflage to help giraffes blend in with the dappled lighting underneath the trees in their wooded savannah habitat.

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that there are four distinct species of giraffe: Masai, Southern, Northern and Reticulated, with several subspecies (https://giraffeconservation.org/giraffe-species/).

An adult giraffe stands with two twin baby giraffes in the African grassland

Reticulated Giraffe twins, Meru National Park © Born Free

Where do giraffes live?

Across their range giraffes utilise open woodlands, wooded grasslands or shrublands and savannahs. Within these habitats, giraffe consume leaves and twigs from over 100 different tree and shrub species, but prefer acacia, as well as grass and fruit.

Giraffe behaviour

Giraffes have a 25-year lifespan and live in dynamic herds of around 3-10 individuals that might consist of males and females of any age, whilst older males live in bachelor herds. Large congregations of 100 or more giraffes have been observed. Long-term associations do exist, seemingly depending on factors like family relationships, sex and age.

After a 15-month gestation, the female will give birth to a single calf, measuring 1.8m at birth and growing 2cm a day until maturity. Young calves can be very playful.

Male giraffes engage in aggressive interactions including ‘necking’, where males compete for dominance by swinging their necks at each other, delivering brutal blows to the other with their ossicones.

Giraffes can vocalise but rarely do. Some vocalisations that have been recorded include snorts, bleats (by calves), bellows, coughs and humming.

Are giraffes endangered?

According to the IUCN, the giraffe conservation status is ‘Vulnerable’, which means they are considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

How many giraffes are left in the world?

At the time of the last assessment in 2016, the IUCN reported a population of 68,293 mature individuals, and that number was reported to be declining.

Why are giraffes endangered?

There are several reasons why giraffes are an endangered species – please use the drop-down menus below to find out more about the biggest threats to giraffes.

Habitat loss and fragmentation due to human population growth and climate change are the main threats to giraffes in the wild. As human populations grow, more giraffe habitat is converted to agriculture, infrastructure and extractive industries such as mining, quarrying and fossil fuel production, leaving less natural habitat for giraffes available.

In some parts of their range, giraffes are hunted legally for sport and for their parts. However, in many areas, giraffes poaching is happening for bushmeat and the illegal giraffe trade. Where civil unrest and weak law enforcement is rife, some giraffe sub-species populations have been devastated.

Giraffes are also exploited in zoos and circuses. Wild giraffes are specialised herbivores, living complex lives and roaming over large expanses, so being confined to small enclosures can lead to extreme frustration and boredom. Giraffes in captivity often exhibit abnormal behaviours, such as repeatedly twisting their necks or licking the bars.

What is Born Free doing to help giraffes?

Born Free works to protect wild giraffes as well as campaigning to end keeping giraffes in captivity.
A group of three giraffes standing in the African bush

Giraffe Conservation

Born Free works to conserve reticulated giraffes in the Meru Conservation Area, Kenya by protecting them from snares and poaching, and monitoring their numbers and behaviours.
A giraffe is bending over in an indoor zoo enclosure with the photo taken through bars

Giraffes in Captivity

Born Free campaigns to end the keeping of giraffes in captivity, including in zoos in the UK and around the world.
Two giraffes stand facing each other with necks crossing over

Trophy Hunting and Wildlife Trade

Born Free campaigns to ban trophy hunting, and bring an end to the wildlife trade in giraffe parts. We seek humane ways of mitigating conflict and fostering peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.
Close up of the head and neck of a giraffe looking at the camera

Adopt a giraffe

You can support Born Free's work to protect giraffes, by adopting the Giraffe Family in Meru

Adopt a Giraffe