Southern Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis

This group of animals is the largest ruminant in Africa. The males reach a height of 5 meters with the females reaching 3-4 meters. The males may weigh up to 1600kg. The giraffe has a heart which has walls of 3 inches thick and may weigh as much as 12kg. They will eat 32 kg of leaves per day.

The Knob Thorn , Acacia nigrecens, which in the Djuma area make up about 80% of their diet. They have incredible eye sight and are said to be able to see lions from about three kilometers away, in fairly open habitat. A reason why other animals are seen moving around with a journey of giraffe.

A female will become sexually active from around 3-4 years old and gives
birth to one young after a gestation period of 457 days. Twins have only
been recorded once, in a zoo in California but only one made it. They have a
tongue which is a foot long , giving them extra reach when browsing. They
are also the only ungulate with a gestation period which is over one year
in length.