Masai Giraffe

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*This page is under renovation and all information may not be up-to-date or complete*

Description

Masai giraffes are the tallest land mammals on Earth, growing up to 18 feet in height. They have long necks reaching up to 6 feet in length and tails reaching 8 feet in length. Their bodies are covered in short, tan fur with irregularly shaped patches of darker brown fur.

Giraffes have two horn-like structures on top of their heads called ossicones. At birth, these ossicones are small, bony protrusions covered in cartilage. They lie flat unattached to the skull to prevent injury at birth. Shortly after they are born, the ossicones grow and their soft cartilage structure hardens into bone, a process called ossification. Females tend to have tufts of hair at the tops of their ossicones, while males tend to have bald patches on the top from fighting with other males.

Range & Habitat

Masai giraffes are native to Africa, especially in Kenya and Tanzania. They live in grassy plains called savannas, as well as open woodlands with scattered trees and bushes.

At the Virginia Zoo, Masai giraffes are found along the African Safari Trail.

Behavior

Male giraffes frequently engage in necking contests to assert their dominance over other males. These contests involve male giraffes swinging their heads at each other’s bodies.

Female giraffes may live in social groups of up to 20 individuals including juveniles and young males. As the males age, they split off into bachelor herds and eventually become solitary except for mating.

Diet

Masai giraffes are herbivores. They eat leaves, twigs, bark, flowers and fruit from over 60 different types of plants in their native habitat, but their preferred food is the whistling-thorn acacia. This plant guards its leaves with pairs of thorns up to 3 inches long, but with an 18-20 inch long prehensile tongue, Masai giraffes are able to grasp leaves and avoid the thorns.

Conservation

Major threats to Masai giraffes include habitat loss from expanding human populations and poaching in protected areas.

Fun Facts

• Even though giraffes have much longer necks than humans, they still only have seven neck vertebrae bones!
• Giraffes may sleep for as little as 30 minutes a day in the wild, as they must stay alert to watch out for predators.

Virginia Zoo Animals

Females: Imara (born: 4/4/2002) & Noelle (born: 2/19/2013)