One of my favorite stopovers was the Mokala National Park, in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It is one of the newest national parks in South Africa. In the same region we also visited Marrick Game Farm, another nice stop. One of the animals we found on both locations was the Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis).
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3 Fairly young Giraffe[/caption]
Males are larger than females, and the estimated maximum for males is 5.5 meter (head), 4.5 meter for females, and 1.9 ton (900 - 1.4) males, 1.2 ton (700 - 900 kg) for females. Lifespan about 20 years.
Like woodland areas, traveling only in grassland. Feeding on Acacias is main source of food, but various other trees also frequented. Interestingly, they do chew bones, when soil in especially low in phosphorus, which can lead to vulnerability to anthrax and botulism.
Always a nice find and my personal favorite is seeing them run or gallop. Difficult to describe the body, legs and neck/head working together. We all know the kneeling that goes on when the drink water. Those hooves are defensive weapons, that can even kill lions.
The dolerite hills seen in the background of above picture and Camel Thorn trees, unique to dry areas of Southern Africa are some additional points of interest, and with many other factors, create fairly unique feeling of serenity with me.
As they disappear, gracefully walking off till we meet again, take a moment, and remember to enjoy them next time you see them again. Our mammals with the longest necks.
Reference notes
Smithers Mammals of Southern Africa: A field guide. Edited by Peter Apps. Struik publishers, 2000
3 Fairly young Giraffe[/caption]
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