| NAME OF ANIMAL | FAMILY | DESCRIPTION |
| MASAI GIRAFFE | GIRAFFEDAE | THE MASAI GIRAFFE IS DISTINGUISHED BY JAGGED AND IRREGULAR SPOTS ON ITS BODY. |
| MEASUREMENT | MALES & FEMALES (COMMON) |
| TAIL LENGTH | 3.3 FEET LENGTH |
| TONGUE LENGTH | 50 CENTIMETERS (20 INCHES). THEY HAVE PREHENSILE TONGUE LENGTH |
| SPEED | 50 KM PER HOUR (31 MPH) |
| INTERESTING FACT | A GROUP OF GIRAFFES IS A TOWER. THE CLOSEST RELATIVE TO THE GIRAFFE IS THE OKAPI. THEY CAN GO WITHOUT WATER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH FRESH BROWSE. |
| MEASUREMENT | MALES | FEMALES |
| HEAD TO BODY LENGTH | ||
| HORN LENGTH | THE MALE GIRAFFES’ OSSICONES ARE LARGER THAN THOSE OF FEMALES AND MAY GROW UP TO 25CM (10”) LONG. | N/A |
| HEIGHT | 19 FEET (5.5 METERS) | 16 FEET (4.8 METERS) |
| TAIL LENGTH | 78 AND 100 CMS (31 – 39 INCHES) | 78 AND 100 CMS (31 – 39 INCHES) |
| WEIGHT (GENERAL) | 2475 – 4275 POUNDS (1100 – 1900 KILOGRAMS) | 1575 – 2700 POUNDS (700 – 1200 KILOGRAMS) |
| CHARACTERISTICS | DESCRIPTION |
| RANGE | KENYA AND TANZANIA IN EAST AFRICA. |
| HABITAT | SAVANNAHS |
| PRIMARY DIET | HERBIVORE |
| DIET | THEY ARE HERBIVORES LIKE ALL TYPES OF GIRAFFES AND FEED ON THE LEAVES OF TALL TREES SUCH AS THE ACACIA OR WILD APRICOT. THEY ALSO EAT SPROUTS AND FRUITS. |
| CONSERVATION STATUS | MASAI GIRAFFE POPULATIONS HAVE DECLINED 50 PERCENT |
| REASON FOR THE STATUS | PRIMARY THREATS IN THE WILD INCLUDE HABITAT LOSS AND ILLEGAL HUNTING. |
| CHARACTERISTICS | DESCRIPTION – MALES & FEMALES (COMMON) |
| SEXUAL MATURITY | 4 YEARS AGE |
| WEANING | 12-16 MONTHS OF AGE |
| GESTATION PERIOD | 15 TO 20 MONTHS DEPENDING ON NUTRITION OF MOTHER |
| BEHAVIOR | MASAI GIRAFFES ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS, LIVING IN LOOSE, OPEN, UNSTABLE HERDS VARYING FROM 10 TO 20 INDIVIDUALS, ALTHOUGH HERDS OF UP TO 70 HAVE BEEN OBSERVED. INDIVIDUAL GIRAFFES JOIN AND LEAVE THE HERD AT WILL. HERDS CAN INCLUDE ALL FEMALE, ALL MALE, FEMALE WITH YOUNG CALVES, OR MIXED GENDERS AND AGES. FEMALE GIRAFFES ARE MORE SOCIAL THAN MALE GIRAFFES. ISOLATED INDIVIDUALS CAN ALSO BE ENCOUNTERED IN THE WILD. THEY SPEND THE DAY BROWSING BUT AT NIGHT RETIRE TO AN OPEN AREA WHERE THEIR GREAT HEIGHT AND EXCELLENT EYESIGHT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR A PREDATOR TO APPROACH UNOBSERVED. THEY TAKE TURNS SLEEPING, WITH ONE OR TWO ALWAYS ON GUARD. THEY PULL LEAVES OFF TWIGS WITH THEIR LONG. |
| BIRTH TYPE | VIVIPAROUS |
| MATING | POLGYNOUS |
| LIFESPAN IN WILD | 15-25 YEARS IN THE WILD |
| LIFESPAN IN CAPTIVITY | 30 YEARS CAPTIVITY |
