Giraffe

The world tallest and longest-necked land animal, a fully-grown giraffe can measure up to 5.5m high. They live in loosely structured herds of up to 15 head and are often seen singly or in small groups.

Both male and females have distinctive, stumpy horns – on the females these have tufts.

Other characteristics are the short mane, high shoulders sloping down to their haunches and thin tail with a tufted end.

To drink, a giraffe must either straddle or bend its forelegs.

There are three subspecies of giraffe found in Kenya.

• Commonly seen is the Masai giraffe recognized from other giraffe species due to its irregular pattern of tan and yellow colored markings.
  
  
• The reticulated giraffe is found in northern Kenya, and has distinctive crazy-paving markings of chocolate brown on white, while the
  
  
• Rothschild’s giraffe is sometimes mistaken for a Masai giraffe, but it has paler markings, with no spots below the knee and on the male there’s pronounced forehead, sometimes giving the impression of three horns.

The idea that giraffes are mute is a myth! Though normally silent, calves bleat and make a mewing call, cows seeking lost calves bellow, and courting bulls may emit a raucous cough.

Giraffes also give alarm snorts, and moaning, snoring, hissing, and flutelike sounds have been reported.