Giraffes are almost as entertaining as elephants. Seemly awkward with their thin spindly legs, halting gait and l-o-n-g necks, they have a gentle nature that I find appealing. A few interesting facts about giraffes:
– They are the tallest terrestrial mammal, standing 5-6 m. (16-20′), with males weighing up to 1500 kg (3500 pounds). Baby giraffes are born almost 2 meters (6′) tall!
– They have long purple tongues — long enough with which to touch their ears. Scientists think their tongue is colored to help protect it from sunburn. Giraffes eat 35 kg of vegetation a day, virtually all torn off by their purplish tongues.
– They sleep only 30 minutes a day! If they were lawyers, that would leave them almost 24 hours in which to bill (actually they would likely bill for more than 36 hours a day if they were lawyers!)
These photos were taken in the Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a beautiful oasis filled with lots of wildlife, including large numbers of giraffes. You can read more about it here if you’re interested.
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2 Responses to “Pic of the Week”. April 26, 2013. Giraffes, Okavango Delta, Botswana