Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world by far. Standing at heights of 18 feet on average, they are also very heavy animals.
Male giraffes will generally weigh 2,600-3,000 pounds (1,179-1,360 kg). Their large necks make up about 600 pounds (272 kg) of that weight!
Female are shorter, and lighter, with an average weight of 1,500-1,800 pounds (680-816 kg).
Giraffes have big hearts as well. In fact an adult has a heart that weighs 25 pounds on average. It needs to be this big so that it can pump blood up through its very long neck.
How Tall Can Giraffes Grow?
The tallest giraffe on record stood 19.3 feet tall (5.88 meters).
George was also heavy, weighing in at more than 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg).
That’s about as much weight as a Dodge Durango!
How Much Does A Newborn Giraffe Weigh?
The first thing you’ll notice about newborn giraffes, also known as calves, is their height.
Baby giraffes are 6-feet tall when they are born. They also weigh as much as 70 pounds (31 kg) at birth!
How Much Do Giraffes Eat?
Giraffes love to eat.
Their height and long tongue make it easy to grasp food. It gives them a big advantage over other herbivores who live nearby.
This is because they can eat leaves and plants that are out of reach of other animals.
What Do Giraffes Eat?
They love eating leaves from acacia trees. It is their single favorite meal. They also have a taste for other plants, including fruit, buds, herbs, vines, and flowers.
During the course of a day, an adult giraffe consumes more than 100 pounds (45 kg) of leaves and other plants!
Where Do Giraffes Live?
Giraffes live in very warm areas, so it’s not always easy for them to access water.
Adults will drink once a day.
They get most of their hydration from the plants and vegetation they eat throughout the day.
How Long Do Giraffes Sleep?
Compared to humans, giraffes need very little sleep. An adult giraffe will average 30 minutes of sleep a day, which is the shortest sleep time among all mammals. In captivity they may sleep upwards of 4 hours.
Do giraffes sleep standing up? Yes, they often do. They are also known to lay down while sleeping with their necks tucked around to their butts.
~ Fun Fact ~
Giraffes are NOT slow-moving animals. They are known to run as fast as 35 mph, which is faster than the speed of most horses.
Resources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/giraffe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffe
https://www.livescience.com/27336-giraffes.html
http://www.pbs.org/edens/etosha/giraffe.htm