Whenever giraffes are mentioned or one thinks of this animal, the image that comes to one’s mind is of their their long, speckled necks.

And why not? The neck and legs of a giraffe make it the tallest land animal on earth — some reach 17 feet in height.

And what is striking is that the Arabs chose to name the giraffe not for its neck, but for its speed: ‘giraffe’ comes from an Arab word that means ‘the one that walks very fast’.

A giraffe’s single stride covers 15 feet of ground (imagine that), and while running they can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour. It would indeed be striking to watch something so large move so quickly.

At six feet tall, a newborn giraffe is taller than the average adult human. Within an hour of birth, it stands and begins to take milk from its mother.

Plant-eater :

Because the giraffe is a plant-eater, or herbivore, it does not have to hunt as many carnivores do. The favourite food of the giraffe is the leaves of the acacia tree. When feeding, giraffes are careful to choose trees out in the open, where their height gives them a bird’s-eye view of the plains. In this way, giraffes reduce the risk of falling victim to lions.

Favourite food :

Giraffes eat the leaves and buds from bushes and trees. Their favourite food is acacia leaves, which grow on thorny branches. To avoid the thorns, the giraffe wraps its long tongue around the leaves and strips them off the branches without using its lips. The tongue is uniquely designed for this purpose: it is nearly 22 inches long, and is black on the end to protect it from sunburn. The leaves are swallowed before they have been completely chewed. Like cows, giraffes will bring the leaves up again to chew at a later time, when they are resting.

Tall babies :

Even baby giraffes are large. At six feet tall, a newborn giraffe is taller than the average adult human. Within an hour of birth, it stands and begins to take milk from its mother, although it may be months before it is prepared to run with the herd. By the time it is a year old, a giraffe will be nearly 10 feet tall.

Their home :

Giraffes live in limited areas within Africa, always on the open plains. They are never seen in dense forests or deserts. Loosely organised herds can number anywhere from two to 50, with individual giraffes freely wandering from herd to herd. Over a few months’ time, giraffes can cover hundreds of miles searching for food.

People are fascinated by giraffes, and giraffes don’t give people any reason to hurt them. They are not hunted for their sins or horns, they don’t bother farmers’ crops, and they don’t hunt captive livestock. If people can stay out of the giraffe’s way as well as the giraffe has stayed out of people’s way, the future of giraffes should remain bright.