Giraffes !

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Giraffes are the tallest of all land animals standing up to a giant five and a half metres, with long necks accounting for nearly half of this height.

So tall are they, that nature has had to provide a special reservoir of blood in their brain, so that when lifting its head there is enough blood in reserve to prevent it from fainting !



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Found only in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, Giraffe fill a niche in the animal kingdom which no other creature can emulate.

Their enormous height allows them to browse feed from the tops of trees which only they can reach.

Giraffe are gregarious by nature, and are often seen grazing amongst zebra and antelope.

It might be surprising to learn that the giraffe has no more vertebrae in its neck than many of these animals, only seven, the same as the squat-necked hippo !


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Apart from stamina, the ability to run at a reasonable speed, and his strong kick, the usually docile giraffe has little means of defence against predators. 

During the mating season, young bulls may batter each other, using the two to four small skin-covered horn-like structures on their heads to head-butt their rivals.

Calves are born after a gestation of 15 months, and can soon loping along inelegantly beside their peers. 
They will already be two metres tall at this stage and the mother will ensure her youngster is kept clean by putting her long rough tongue to good use.



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