Giraffes are the largest land mammals on Earth, yet their long necks are made up of just 7 vertebra bones, the same amount as humans. It also isn't just their large body size but many of their internal organs too. They have a heart that is roughly 60cm in length, which is the same size as two rulers joined end to end.
They also have very large tongues. These tongues have always fascinated me. Giraffes often feed on acacia trees which are trees with large thorns like the ones seen in the picture on the left.
Not known to many, giraffes are slowly becoming extinct. This is mainly due to habitat loss due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urban development. As their natural habitats shrink, giraffes are forced to move into smaller areas with less food.
Illegal hunting for bushmeat, mainly through the use of snares, often inadvertently kills untargeted animals, such as giraffes. These snares are made of wire and usually get caught around the giraffe's necks or legs, and they slowly get strangled to death or bleed out from the wire snare becoming tighter around them as they try to struggle free.
Thankfully there is still a lot of hope for giraffes as many organizations are helping to protect and restore their habitats, which is crucial, and initiatives like creating protected areas and wildlife corridors are helping make a difference.
There are also various anti-poaching measures, including law enforcement and community engagement programmes that do daily snare patrols to help remove this potential risk to all wildlife in these protected areas. This is vital in reducing the illegal killing of giraffes.
This World Giraffe Day, let's all stand together to help protect these gentle giants. By taking action, supporting conservation efforts, and sharing information on social media, we can help ensure that giraffes continue roaming the African savannahs for generations to come. Together, we can make a difference and give hope to these majestic creatures.
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