Giraffe

Scientific nameGiraffa camelopardalis

Conservation status (IUCN)

Vulnerable

The giraffe is the tallest of all animals! With its long neck, blue tongue and dark eyelashes, it’s equipped for eating from the trees and withstanding the heat.

Sydney

Visitor Tips for Dubbo

Visitor tips for Sydney

Giraffes can be viewed in the African Savannah habitat.

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Giraffe Encounter

11:00am

Keeper Talk

10:40am

Visitor tips for Dubbo

Giraffes can be viewed in the African Savannah habitat.

Giraffe Encounter

10:00am

Fun facts about Giraffes

28 years

Giraffes can live between 20-28 years in Zoo care and females have a gestation period of 13–15 months.

Herbivores

Giraffes eat shoots and leaves, mainly from acacia trees.

1900 kg

is the maximum weight a Giraffe can reach, with females typically weighing about 1000 kg.

Savannahs, grasslands and woodlands

are a Giraffes' habitat, where they find food and protection.

6m

Giraffes can grow up to 6m tall. Females are generally around 5m tall.

East and Southern Africa

are home to Giraffes.

28 years

Giraffes can live between 20-28 years in Zoo care and females have a gestation period of 13–15 months.

Herbivores

Giraffes eat shoots and leaves, mainly from acacia trees.

1900 kg

is the maximum weight a Giraffe can reach, with females typically weighing about 1000 kg.

Savannahs, grasslands and woodlands

are a Giraffes' habitat, where they find food and protection.

6m

Giraffes can grow up to 6m tall. Females are generally around 5m tall.

East and Southern Africa

are home to Giraffes.

Did you know?

We bet you didn't know these facts about gigantic giraffes.

Scroll across and tap the icons to reveal info on Giraffes.

Standing snooze

Giraffes sleep while standing up.

Long but powerful

Giraffes have enough strength in one kick to kill a lion.

What are those?

The two ‘horns’ on the top of a giraffes head are actually called ‘ossicones’.

One long neck

Giraffes have the same number of vertebrae as humans (7) but their bones are much longer than ours.

Life in a herd

Giraffes are social animals. A group of giraffes is called a ‘herd’.

Blue tongue

Giraffe’s tongues are dark blue to act as a natural sun screen.

Standing start

A Giraffe calf is born with the mother standing, and the calf can walk within an hour of being born.

Eyes on the horizon

Giraffes have great eyesight and can see clearly up to 2km away.

Meet Msumeno, a hand-raised calf in Dubbo

Species management programs

Taronga contributes to an Australasian Species Management Program and/or international breeding program for this species. This helps maintain healthy and resilient zoo-based animal populations by preserving genetic diversity, supporting animal husbandry knowledge, and ensuring exceptional animal welfare, safeguarding the species for the future.