World Giraffe Day - June 21, 2022 - a photo on Flickriver

World Giraffe Day - June 21, 2022

World Giraffe Day (WGD) is celebrated annually on June 21. It is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the world’s tallest animal. June 21 is the longest day of the year or the longest night for people living in the Southern Hemisphere, so it makes sense to celebrate the World Giraffe Day on this day. It was an initiative of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). Unfortunately, the population of these terrestrial mammals is quickly declining. Habitat loss, illegal hunting, and climate change are the main threats to their population and wellbeing. WGD provides an opportunity to create awareness about the plight of giraffes.

Interesting Facts About Giraffes:

- They can grow over 5,8 m /19 ft tall. This exceptional height allows them to look out for predators and eat leaves from the treetops where other herbivores cannot reach.

- Giraffes have about 1,8 m /6 ft long legs and their long legs allow them to attain a top speed of 56 kmh / 35 mph for short distances.

- Females give birth to a single calf after a pregnancy of 16 months. At birth, baby giraffes are about 1,8 m /6 ft tall and they can grow an inch (2,5cm) a day during their first week.

- Even their tongue is very long, which can be stretched over 50 cm.

- Giraffes only need to drink water once every few days because their leafy diet provides them the required moisture.

- These gentle giants of Africa have spotted patterns on coats. Like human fingerprints, every giraffe has a unique pattern of spots.

- Newborns can stand in about half an hour after the birth, walk within an hour, and run with their mothers in ten hours.

- While lions are the main predators of giraffes, other animals such as leopards and hyenas also prey upon them.

- Giraffes have a massive and exceptionally strong heart. Their hearts are about 60 cm /2 ft long and weigh approximately 11kg / 25 lbs, that’s equal to about 40 human hearts. Also, their blood pressure can be two times higher than other animals.

- They have excellent eyesight and can spot a predator from far away.

- While their neck is the longest of any animal, but it has only 7 bones like humans and other mammals with much shorter necks.

- They spend about 16 to 20 hours a day eating. Moreover, they can eat about 45 kg of food in a day.

- Giraffes are capable of sleeping only 5 minutes a day. They can survive on 5 to 30 minutes of sleep each day which they get through a series of two-minute naps.

- They live in unstable groups called towers.
(eventlas.com/world-giraffe-day/)

And more facts about these fascinating animals at giraffeconservation.org!

Besides these facts some good news:
Giraffe are still in trouble, but there is hope as giraffe numbers throughout Africa are showing a positive upwards trend!
2021 was another year that was largely defined by the Covid-19 pandemic and a media landscape that bombarded us with negative stories. However, we at GCF are excited to end the year on a positive note: Our latest estimate, based on numbers collated from all over Africa, stands at just over 117,000 giraffe in the wild – an increase of almost 20% since 2015.

While this is still a precariously low number – particularly when compared to African elephants: there is only 1 giraffe for every 3-4 elephant in Africa – we can see encouraging signs!

Reticulated Giraffes / Netzgiraffen (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)
Sweetwaters game reserve/Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya, Africa

... and look carefully so you don't miss one ;-))

Taken in: Kenya / Nyeri / Burguret (show map)

Taken on: September 22, 2011

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Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata

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Sets appears in: • giraffes • Kenya 2011

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, f/5.6, 1/640 sec, 420mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Focal Length:	420mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-2/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 23.2 (Windows)
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