Maasai Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi

Marked with jagged spots, the Maasai Giraffe, also known as the Kilimanjaro Giraffe, is the largest subspecies of giraffe. As the tallest animals in the world, giraffes have a clear view of their surroundings on the African savanna. With excellent eyesight, they often detect predators and threats from a greater distance than do other animals. Giraffes also use their extended reach to forage on leaves inaccessible to all other savanna dwellers except elephants.

A foot-and-a-half long tongue can nimbly strip leaves and fruits from a branch.
Thick saliva protects the giraffe’s tongue from the thorns of its favorite food source, the acacia tree.
Giraffes spend much of the day feeding and can eat up to 75 pounds a day.
Weighing up to 25 pounds, a large heart is necessary to pump enough blood to the brain. An average human’s heart weighs less than one pound.

Fact File

Height: 13 to 17 ft
Weight: 1,210 to 4,250 lbs
Lifespan: 25 yrs in wild
Habitat: Savanna and woodland
Diet: Leaves, shoots, and fruits
Status: Species at Risk (IUCN—Lower risk)

Giraffes In Action

Videos

Neck Bones:

The giraffe’s six foot long neck contains just seven bones, the same number as other mammals, including you.

Range:

Southern Kenya and Tanzania

At Work in Africa

The Zoo partners with the African Conservation Centre (www.conservationafrica.org) in Kenya. The Centre’s primary aim is to bring together the people and skills needed to build East Africa’s capacity to conserve wildlife, including the giraffe.

Feed a Giraffe

Feed a giraffe at Giraffe Ridge at 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 4:30pm every day through September 6.

Meet a Zookeeper

Listen to the tall tales of a giraffe zookeeper at Giraffe Ridge at 1:00pm every day through September 6.

Earth Expeditions

Educators! Participate in an Earth Expeditions course to explore inquiry-based learning and study sustainable approaches to human-wildlife coexistence in Kenya.