G is for Giraffe

G if for Giraffe!

                                                                   And Gossip too!

Here is a little Giraffe gossip for you -

Giraffes are the tallest living mammal.  They can grow to be 16 - 20 feet tall.  Their weight can reach between 1500 - 3000 pounds.

Each giraffe's spots are unique to him/her.  No two are alike.
And, the darker the spots the older the giraffe.

Their tails can grow up to 8 feet in length!

A giraffe's neck can be up to 8 feet long. Because they are both mammals, man and giraffe both have the same number of bones in their necks - 7.

That long neck makes the giraffe the watchman or watchtower of the savannah.  They can see a threat long before other animals, like wildebeasts and gazelles who congregate at watering holes with them.

And speaking of water!  Giraffes drink up to 12 gallons of water a day. They can go without drinking water longer than camels.  They will survive on the moisture found in the leaves they eat.

2 hours of sleep each day are enoughfor a giraffe.

When mom Giraffe has her baby, it drops 6 feet to the ground, unharmed - what a way to enter the world!

The okapi is the closest living relative to the giraffee.  And, since this is a gossip column, I can say without guilt, the okapi is just a pale imitation of their magnificently spotted taller cousin!

Artwork featuring the giraffe is very popular.  This is one of my favorites - (I love CharleyHarper's work!) and watercolors seems to be a medium that the giraffe lends itself to nicely.  Just a few pics of various works - notice the giraffe a la Andy Warhol!

Is you enjoyed your visit and would like to get in on the  A B C fun, click on the link to the right, to join us at Alphabe=Thurdays!  You'll have fun!