That sounds great. For my wife's birthday last year I took her to the Norfolk zoo and we fed the giraffes. Had to purchase a "behind the scenes" tour for extra money though. We got a big bucket of carrots to feed them.
News Giraffes put on extinction watch list
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That sounds great. For my wife's birthday last year I took her to the Norfolk zoo and we fed the giraffes. Had to purchase a "behind the scenes" tour for extra money though. We got a big bucket of carrots to feed them.
Their purpose is the same as anything else: to survive, or die trying.
Oh, I know
I meant more as in, they're the only ones with long necks (currently), and aside being able to eat leaves from tall trees, ever wonder why they're the only ones? It's like they're aliens! Nature is truly a wonder sometimes. You get things like Giraffes that nobody can really explain.
^^ A Science Fiction writer who created something like the giraffe would be criticized for making them so awkward and vulnerable. 
That's great. They're all sleeping now, though. Must be about 3am local time.
Check it out in the afternoon. You can see one of the babies at the feeding posts.
I'll set myself a reminder to check after work.
Giraffes aren't altogether vulnerable. I've seen videos of them kicking lions to death and then stomping on them to make sure. Think Nessus the Puppeteer in Larry Niven's Ringworld.
Yeah, saw part of a documentary a few days ago where giraffes were pummeling each other with their necks, using them like clubs. The narrator said he could hear cracks, and then when he approached after they had left, he could see blood.
Another thing that the documentary showed and this is something else that makes me wonder about their purpose, is how much difficulty they have when wanting to drink from a lake. Their long necks may be great for eating leaves, but it makes it incredibly awkward for drinking, as they have to position their legs very wide, then drop down low enough for their head to reach. Think Bambi x10, only the giraffe has a clear disadvantage due to its size.
Another thing that the documentary showed and this is something else that makes me wonder about their purpose, is how much difficulty they have when wanting to drink from a lake. Their long necks may be great for eating leaves, but it makes it incredibly awkward for drinking, as they have to position their legs very wide, then drop down low enough for their head to reach. Think Bambi x10, only the giraffe has a clear disadvantage due to its size.
^^ They should have evolved flexible necks like Nessus.
I got to watch them for a bit after work yesterday. They have a bunch of ostrich friends in there with them.
I got to watch them for a bit after work yesterday. They have a bunch of ostrich friends in there with them.
^^ They should have evolved flexible necks like Nessus.
Oh, but I believe they do. I think the problem is more that they have tall thin legs with their body so high off the ground, that they have to do so much more work to do something simple. Another thing the documentary mentioned was that normally when one would bend their necks over, blood would rush to the head and one would become lightheaded. But giraffes have evolved to have an some sort of valve that prevents it from all rushing back when they bend their necks down low.
Giraffes are OP as fuck.
Do never test.
Do never test.
^^ It was even better yesterday. There were four of them hanging around with their little ostrich friends.
Yeah, they evolved a helpful valve but not very helpful legs. This is why there is not a single giraffe who believes in Intelligent Design.
What's wrong with their fast-running, lion-murdering legs?
Wow, that clip! Well, it might be a pun, but it looks like it it can stand on its own
Nice turnabout, but I expect that little encounter was the exception and not the rule-- and kitty had not given up, so we don't know what the final outcome was.
Yesterday was a good day on the webcam. The giraffes were very active, and I counted at least six, including a baby. The first day I only saw two and a half dozen ostriches.
Yesterday was a good day on the webcam. The giraffes were very active, and I counted at least six, including a baby. The first day I only saw two and a half dozen ostriches.
It's not the exception. Lions typically only go after very young or very old giraffes. Healthy adults are too large and dangerous, and most lions won't mess with them because it will generally go poorly for the lion.
Those are epic gifs 
