- Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. Their legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet.
- They can run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances, or cruise at 10 mph over longer distances.
- A giraffe's neck is too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread its front legs or kneel to reach the ground for a drink of water.
- Giraffes only need to drink once every few days. Most of their water comes from all the plants they eat.
- Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young falls more than 5 feet to the ground at birth.
- Giraffes learn to stand just 30 minutes after birth and can run with their mothers just 10 hours after birth.
- A giraffe's feet are the size of a dinner plate—approximately 12 inches across.
- Females use their hooves as weapons to protect their young. They are strong enough to kill a lion.
- Both male and female giraffes have two distinct, hair-covered horns called ossicones. Male giraffes use their horns to sometimes fight with other males.
- Giraffes are a ruminant, which means they have more than one stomach to help them digest their food. In fact, they have 4 stomachs!
- A giraffe’s spots are much like human fingerprints. No two individual giraffes have exactly the same pattern.
- The age of a giraffe can be calculated from its spots. The darker the spots, the older the giraffe.
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Sources: National Geographic, San Diego Zoo
