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  • Singapore Zoo
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  • Giraffe

Giraffe

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Wild Africa
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Quick facts

Lifespan

Lifespan 10 to 15 years in the wild and 20 to 25 years under human care

Diet

DietLeaves, flowers, seed pods and fruits

Habitat

HabitatSavannas, grasslands or open woodland

Range

RangeAcross African continent

The giraffes

Giraffes Sail In From India

Two young Rothschild’s giraffes Adhil and Balaji arrived at Singapore Zoo in May 2021. Hailing from India’s Mysuru Zoo, they are now part of a globally managed breeding programme under the EAZA Ex-situ Programme. 

Read more about them →

Feeding our giraffes

Our giraffes are fed Australian hay and leaves from local starfruit, jackfruit and acacia trees. Bunches of leaves are hoisted high up in the trees to encourage the giraffes to display their natural behaviour of feeding off the highest leaves. They also take vegetables like carrots. Salt lick blocks supplement their diet with necessary minerals — in the wild, giraffes would eat soil rich in salt and other minerals. Water troughs are placed at comfortable heights.

A tongue for thorns

The tough leathery tongue of the giraffe may reach a length of 53cm and works like a hand to grasp leaves from branches. The lack of incisors and canines on its upper jaw allows the tongue to move unhindered during feeding. The giraffe may draw whole branches into its mouth and outward-facing canines on its lower jaw helps to ‘release’ leaves when it’s done feeding. It coats leaves (especially thorny acacia) in its thick, sticky saliva for efficient swallowing.

A drinking problem

In the wild, giraffes need to get down to a very awkward position to drink water. In this position, they are vulnerable to attacks by lions. Males grow to almost 6m, females up to 5m. When they lower their head from such heights to the ground, the elastic walls in their carotid artery (carrying blood from heart to brain) swell to contain the extra blood and prevent it from rushing to the head. When they get back up after they’ve drunk their fill, special valves in their veins slow down the flow of blood away from the brain.

G-suits

The tight skin on the giraffe’s lower legs maintain pressure and ensure blood does not pool in their legs, despite the force of gravity on the huge amount of blood in their body. Scientists have studied the giraffe extensively to design g-suits for fighter pilots. That’s g for gravity, not giraffe. During high g-force maneouvres, these tight-fitting trousers exert pressure on the pilots’ abdomen and legs to prevent blood-pooling and consequent loss of consciousness.

Meet the family

Adhil

Adhil

DOB: 6 May 2020

Protective older brother to Balaji. Tends to take the lead in anything new.

Balaji

Balaji

DOB: 30 May 2020

Adhil’s younger brother. Playful and social, he loves to people watch.

Jubilee

Jubilee

DOB: 31 August 2015

The first giraffe born at the Zoo in 28 years.

Marco

Marco

DOB: 9 June 2004

Curious, sociable, and loves to eat! Father of Jubilee.

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Together, we protect wildlife

Towering threats to the giraffe

Towering threats to the giraffe

Besides habitat loss and change due to expanding agricultural and mining activities, giraffes in the wild are threatened by increased human-wildlife conflict, illegal hunting, and civil unrest.

A dramatic 40% decline has been recorded over 20 years, hence its up-listing from Least Concern to Vulnerable.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

Encounters with wildlife

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Giraffe Feeding

Daily Wild Africa 10:45am, 1:50pm & 3:45pm

Meet Marco and Jubilee the giraffes up-close and feel what it’s like to have a giraffe eat out of your hand!

S$ 8.00/food portion

Prior online booking required

Buy Feeding Session

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