giraffe6

Giraffes!

Giraffes can be found in the south of the Sahara Desert and like to be around trees and in the arid and dry savannas. Giraffes sometimes eat grass and different fruits and shrubs, but they usually eat the leaves and fruit of the acacia tree even though the tree has sharp thorns they don’t stop the giraffe. The giraffe doesn’t have many predators because it is so tall, but the young calves are weak enough for lions and the spotted hyenas to attack. The giraffes are also killed by poachers wanting there tails for good luck bracelets, fly whisks and thread for sewing or stringing beads or more often for their meat and hide. A giraffe defends its self by kicking its attacker with its front legs or using his long neck and densely boned skull as a mallet against another giraffe.

There are 9 different species of giraffe. The giraffe has a pattern that is unique to them. A giraffe’s tongue is blue and can extend to more then 40cm long. The giraffe stands while it sleeps. When calves are young they grow very fast, they can grow up to an inch per day.
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http://www.africanfauna.com/giraffe.php http://library.thinkquest.org/16645/wildlife/giraffe.shtml http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/giraffe
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By Jessica. Checked By Holly.