Giraffes are nature’s gentle giants, growing up to six metres tall!
Their tongues can measure up to 45cm long – great for helping them pull down leaves, shoots, bark and flowers off tree branches to eat. They have a special valve in their neck that stops the blood rushing to their head when they bend down to drink.
You can tell Rothschilds apart from other types of giraffe because they have no markings on their lower legs. They’re also the taller than other giraffe species. Their name comes from the founder of the Tring Museum, Lionel Walter, the 2nd Baron Rothschild.
They live in the open woodlands, savannahs and grasslands of Uganda and Kenya where they live in small herds, with males and females only mixing for mating. It takes up to sixteen months for a baby giraffe to gestate and mothers usually birth just one baby at a time.
Giraffes necks are long, but they actually contain the same number of bones (vertebra) as humans (seven). Males use their strong neck as weapons to fight over females!
Their large hooves are covered in a thick keratin coating and they use them to kick chasing predators. A single kick can kill a lion!
Adopt a Giraffe
Support our zoo and help to prevent extinction by adopting an animal!
BRONZE ADOPTION
As well as helping to support our zoo, this adoption pack includes bags full of zoo goodies!
£45.00
SILVER ADOPTION
As well as helping to support our zoo, this adoption pack includes x1 admission ticket plus bags full of zoo goodies!
£65.00
GOLD ADOPTION
As well as helping to support our zoo, this adoption pack includes x2 admission tickets plus bags full of zoo goodies!
£90.00
THERE ARE FEWER THAN 2,000 ROTHSCHILD’S GIRAFFES LEFT IN THE WILD
We’re collaborating with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA) to help PROTECT them.
We’re monitoring their numbers in Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda. An annual census has shown giraffe numbers are steadily increasing, with several successful births in the park since 2015.
We’re helping to fund the development of the first National Strategy for Giraffe Conservation in Uganda!
NOW is the time to ACT FOR WILDLIFE. Conservation is CRITICAL; species are under threat. TOGETHER we can make a BIG difference. Take action TODAY and join us in PREVENTING EXTINCTION.
YOU CAN MAKE
A BIG DIFFERENCE
Make a donation
Your donation will help us protect wildlife here at Chester Zoo and all over the world. Thank you so much for supporting our mission of preventing extinction. For donations over £250, please contact fundraising@chesterzoo.org, and we will be happy to help!