24 Fascinating facts about Southern Giraffes

The Southern Giraffe, also known as the two-horned Giraffe, is species of Giraffe native to Southern Africa. Southern Giraffes have rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves. They range from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Their approximate population is composed of 44,500 individuals. Here are 24 fascinating facts :

1. Southern Giraffe belongs to the family Giraffedae, species G.giraffe. 

2. The Cape subspecies of the Southern Giraffe have dark, somewhat rounded patches “with some fine projections” on a tanya background colour.

3. The Southern Giraffes live in the Savanna and woodlands of northern South Africa. 

4. Southern Giraffes are herbivorous mammals. They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots of woody plants such as Acacia. 

5. Southern Giraffes are not threatened, as their population is increasing. 

6. Southern Giraffes have a small but pronounced hump on the back by the end of the mane and a neck formed by seven vertebrae, approximately 8-10 inches each. They also have peculiar and strange horns called ossicones, which are in part of some serial dimorphism characteristics of each gender those of females are smaller and with more hair than those of males. 

7. According to the 2016 census, there are approximately 21,287 South African giraffes from South Africa. 

8. Southern Giraffes dedicate much of their day to feeding since they chew slowly and must cover with their saliva the large spines of the acacias to avoid any damage to their organism.

9. The male Southern Giraffes have to fight to establish domination, and the winners have greater reproductive success than the rest.

10. The young are about 1.70 meters at birth and walk within a few hours of knowing their habitat. Mothers are very protective of their offspring and maintain strong bonds generally until the next birth. 

11. The natural threats to the Southern Giraffes are the carnivores around that represent a danger not only to them but also to all the different types of herbivores of Africa. 

12. Crocodiles usually hide in muddy waters to surprisingly attack when Giraffes are inclined to drink water. In such a position, its neck is almost at the level of the ground, which facilitates its capture and drag, especially with the young and offspring. 

13. Southern Giraffes spend most of their time eating and can guzzle up to 45 kg of leaves twice daily. 

14. They also snack on fruit and grass. Thanks to their long necks and legs, they can reach tasty treats like fresh green leaves in all trees.

15. Southern Giraffes are fast and dangerous. They reach speeds of up to 60 km/h over short distances. 

16. Predators should beware as Giraffe kicks are powerful, and their hooves are the size of dinner plates.

17. Their horns are not real. These look like horns but are actually cartilage covered with skin. 

18. Southern. Giraffes have dark blue tongues. Darker colours offer better protection in the harsh African sun. 

19. Their tongues are like fingers 45-50 cm long, which means it can twist and grip things. They also have mouth armour. Their mouth is covered in hard, finger-like papillae to protect it from sharp thorns. 

20. Southern Giraffes have huge hearts, weigh around 11 kilograms and are the biggest heart of any land animal. 

21. Their heart needs to be extra powerful to pump 60 litres of blood around the its body and all the way up that long neck. 

22. They are the tallest land animal on planet Earth. Fully grown stand at 4.3 to 5.7 meters tall. That’s taller than three men standing on each other’s shoulders. 

23. They all live in Africa. In different parts of Africa, though. Southern Giraffes stroll around the South of the continent. 

24. Southern Giraffe’s numbers have dropped by 30% over the last 30 years. The remaining herds face terrible threats from hunting and habitat loss.