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6  Why does the giraffe have a long neck

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Giraffes for Kids: Learn about Giraffes - FreeSchool

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Discover ten facts about giraffes!

It's time for the lowdown on one of nature's gentle giants! Check out our ten facts about the beautiful giraffe...

1) Giraffes are found in the dry savannas of Africa, where they roam among the open plains and woodlands.

2) Well known for their long necks, these gentle giants are the world's tallest living land animals. An adult male can grow to around 5.5m - that's taller than three adult humans!

3) A giraffe's height is helpful for keeping a look out for predators, such as lions and hyenas. Their excellent eyesight allows them to spot hungry beasts from far away, too.

4) Herbivores, giraffes only eat plants. Their favourite grub is the acacia tree, and they use their long necks to reach the leaves and buds in the treetops. Their long tongues (which grow to a whopping 53cm!) also help them pull down leaves growing way up high.

5) And boy do these guys have an appetite! They spend most of their time eating, and can guzzle up to 45kg of leaves and twigs a day!

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable giraffe primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

6) Whilst they may eat a lot, giraffes don't drink much water. This is because they get most of their water from their leafy meals, and only need to drink once every few days.

7) Giraffes are very social animals and roam around in groups. These groups, called towers, typically have around 15 members led by an adult male. The other members are females and young males.

8) To see who is stronger, males (called bulls) fight by butting their long necks and heads. This is known as " necking ". These fights aren't usually dangerous, and end when one bull admits defeat and walks away.

9) Female giraffes give birth standing up. The result? Newborns are welcomed to the world with a 1.5m drop to the ground! Ouch! But these infants are quick to get on their feet - within 30 minutes they are standing, and only hours later they"re able to run with their mothers.

10) In the wild these beautiful creatures live for around 25 years. In captivity they live longer, and have been known to reach 40 years old.

Photos: Getty Images UK

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10 Giraffe Facts! | National Geographic Kids

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Discover ten facts about giraffes! 1) Giraffes are found in the dry savannas of Africa, where they roam among the open plains and woodlands. 2) Well known for their long necks, these gentle giants are the world's tallest living land animals. An adult male can grow to around 5.5m - that's taller than three adult humans!

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How Animals have adapted to their Environment

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The giraffe is an animal that is easily recognizable by it's extremely long neck, which it uses to battle other giraffes for territory and mates, and to pick food from high atop trees. They subside primarily off of plants and fruits picked from high places. It's because of their necks that giraffes are the tallest extant animal species in the world. Adult males stand on average between 14 ft (4.3 m) and 17 ft (5.2 m), but their have been giraffes discovered that stood almost 20 ft (6 m) tall! For their height, giraffes don't weigh very much, carrying an average mass of 2,600 lbs (1,200 kg) in males, and just 1,800 lbs (830 kg) in females.

Giraffes are also recognizable by their patchy fur, which usually features brownish patches covering a yellowish coat. They can be most commonly found in the savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of places like Chad in Central Africa, and South Africa. However, they have been known to venture out of their preferred habitats when in need of food; preferring areas with denser vegetation and plenty of acacia (a type of shrub) growth. They are also known to drink as much water as they can when it's available, storing it so that they can live for extended periods of time in more arid areas. This trait is similar to camels, who are a distant relatives; they also share similar facial features, though giraffes have small horns atop their heads and camels don't. Their closest relative (still in existence) is the okapi, the only other member of the Giraffidae family. The horns of the giraffe add weight to their heads and allow them to deliver heavier blows when sparring and slamming their heads into each other's bodies.

Giraffes are also known for not being the most pleasant smelling creatures. In fact, older males are sometimes called "stink bulls". Their smell is believed to come from their antibiotic and parasite repellent rich fur, and is also thought to have a part in their mating selection. Their peculiar appearance and almost mythical height have made giraffes a fixture in zoos all over the world. While in such captivity, they are known to lick various objects frequently; this is because captive giraffes never get to suckle their mother, and instinctively try to anyway. These wonderful and majestic creatures, are popular among animal lovers everywhere.

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Giraffe - Long Neck, Spots and Stinky Smell

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The giraffe is an animal that is easily recognizable by it's extremely long neck, which it uses to battle other giraffes for territory and mates, and to pick food from high atop trees. They subside primarily off of plants and fruits picked from high places.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Bellla from Wauseon, OH. Bellla Wonders, " Why do giraffes have long necks? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Bellla! Imagine being able to into a second-story window without needing to stand on your tiptoes. Welcome to a giraffe's life.