The Rothschild's Giraffe Project

Their long necks are a superb adaptation allowing them to browse on vegetation that is out of reach of other browsers in the ecosystem. They feed mainly on tall trees and favour Acacia species.

Giraffe spend most of the day browsing and foraging for food, and they may eat up to 34kg of food per day! Acacia leaves contain a high percentage of water and so giraffe can go for long periods without drinking

Giraffe have 18-inch tongues that they use to strip the leaves off branches. Their tongues are thick to protect them against the sharp thorns found on Acacia trees, and it is blue-black in colour, thought to protect them against sunburn.

Giraffe social systems tend to vary between different parts of Africa and this is currently a topic of debate and research. However in general they can be observed living in large, fluid groups that consist of both males and females.

Investigating the social structure of the Rothschild's giraffe is a large part of the Rothschild's Giraffe Project and will incorporate Social Network Theory and assess inter-inidvidual associations.