Giraffes

Genus name: Giraffa

Height: 3.8-4.7m

Origin: Africa

Diet: Herbivore

IUCN status: Vulnerable

Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for its skin and for food

Zoos I have seen them: Too many to count!

Interesting fact: A recent study in 2016 indicates that there may in fact be as many as four species of the world’s tallest land mammal. The species are:

• the northern giraffe (G. camelopardalis) with 3 subspecies,
• the southern giraffe (G. giraffa) with 2 subspecies,
• the reticulated giraffe (G. reticulata),
• and the Masai giraffe (G. tippelskirchi).

Despite this, the IUCN still regards all giraffes as a single species (Giraffa camelopardalis).