Information
This is animal info. Where you come to find out
about how animals act, live, etc.

Giraffes

...Habitation...

~The Giraffe thrives in a variety of habitats of the Sahara, although it aviods true deserts
(Such as the Namib Desert in Namibia), Dense Rainforest, Marshes, and Boggy ground.

~Hoofs of the giraffe are narrow and don't splay under its weight to keep it from sinking in soft ground.

~The giraffe's greatest advantage, apart from it's height, is its ability to go long periods of time without water.
They may be found hundreds of miles away from water.

~The giraffe prefers a light woodland or grassland with scattered trees on the African savannah. Here it is often found in the company of zebra, wildabeest and ostrich, as none of these animals compete for exactly the same food source.

...Behavior...

~Giraffes congregate in loose herds of upto 12 members; the composition may change daily as animals come and go.

~Usually only mothers and claves for a bond, a herd is usually just protection against predators.
(But in the game, I would like them to get to know each other.)

~A giraffe can easily crush the skull of a lion by lashing out with its long legs, but usually runs away. Able to
spot a predatore from a distance, a herd can make an early escape.

...Breeding...

~A mature male will go out searching for a female in heat, but usually has to face competition from other
males. Male rivalry leads to battles, with males pairing off and fighting each other with their necks and horns.

~The male leaves the female after breeding, and she joins a herd during her pregnancy.

~The female seeks a safe areaaway from the herd to give birth; about two weeks after birth, mother
and calf rejoin the herd.

~When young giraffes reach three or four years old, females stay with their mothers, while males band together in search of breeding females.

...Food & Feeding...

~No other browsing animal can reach upper parts of trees that provide giraffe's food. The Giraffe's long legs prevent it from grazing on the ground vegetation.

~It must spread its forelegs awkwardly to drink.

~The Giraffe uses its long, flexable tounge and muscular upper lip to tear leaves from branches.

~Males and females often have different feeding strategies. Males stretch their necks high to reach the top of taller trees; females prefer to bend over the tops of smaller trees and bushes.

~Most of the giraffe's day is spent feeding.

...Vital Statistics...

Weight -- Male 1,760-4,246 lbs.;
Female 1,210-2,596

Height -- Male 15-17.5';
Female 13-15'

Maturity -- Male 4 years
Female 3 years

Mating Season -- All Year

Number of Young -- 1; live birth twins are very rare.

Typical Diet -- Tree leaves and shoots, shrubs, grasses

Lifespan -- 20-25 years.

 

Zebra

...Habitat...