THE GIRAFFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 84, 10 April 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GIRAFFE.

How long do you think you could live without water? It is generally, considered to be three days, but the giraffe of the North Kalahari Desert lives for three parte of the year without water. It obtains a certain amount of moisture, of course, from the vegetation on which it feeds. This vegetation consists of the leaves and juicy twigs of young acacia trees, which the giraffe grips with ito long and strong tongue. Moreover, the range of this tongue is amazing, for the giraffe is the tallest of all animals, its head sometimes being almost 20ft above the ground. Its tongue alone is often more than 18in long. Although & kick from the giraffe's hind leg may be deadly—giraffes have killed lions in this way—-it is not often used as a weapon. More frequently the giraffe seek& safety in flight, relying on its keen sight and hearing to warn it of approaching enemies. It can, moreover, run fairly swiftly, in fact, the name "giraffe" means "One who walks swiftly." The giraffe well deserves this name, for when it runs it travels so smoothly that it looks as if it were sailing or gliding over the ground.

Ths beautiful marking and colouring of the giraffe help to protect the animal from its enemies, by blending with the tree* and foliage amongst which it rests. But this does not save it from th« natives of Africa, who hunt the animal to make shields from its skin. The skin is prized because it is light, tough and when dried resists many kinds of sharp weapons. One of the unique features of the giraffe is that its hair grows upwards instead of downwards, as it does on all other animals. Although the soft expression of a giraffe's eyes make it appear a gentle creature, it can be very angry sometimes. The giraffe has no voice at all, and even when badly hurt cannot utter a sound. A giraffe has been seen suffering in silence, yet with tears running down its cheeks. Giraffes have to be very careful what they eat. One at the London Zoo that was given chewing gum by a visitor died from the effects of it a'nd cost th« zoo about £300. There are "two kinds of giraffes, the southern or Cape giraffe, and the Nubian or northern species, both of which run in small parties in Africa — the only country in which giraffes are found.