Giraffes: African Farest Terrestrial Mammal

A giraffe is the African tallest terrestrial mammal and the largest ruminant. Giraffes spread from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Giraffe’s primary food source is acacia leaves. Giraffes usually live in grasslands, savannas, and open woodlands. Adult giraffes do not have strong social bonds, though they do gather in loose aggregations if they happen to be moving in the same general direction. Dominant males gain mating access to females, which bear the sole responsibility for raising the young.
The giraffe has fascinated various cultures, both ancient and modern, for its peculiar appearance. It has often been featured in paintings, books, and cartoons. It is classified by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature as Least Concern. But, it also has been extirpated from many parts of its former range and some subspecies are classified as Endangered. Nevertheless, giraffes are still found in numerous national parks and game reserves.