The short answer
Giraffes are the tallest animals on Earth, they have tongues as long as your arm, and a baby giraffe falls almost two metres when it's born — and gets up within an hour! Giraffes live only in Africa, there are four kinds (species) of them, and about 140,700 are left in the wild. Here are fifteen amazing, true giraffe facts, plus how you can help.
15 amazing giraffe facts
- Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. A big male can be 5.5 metres (18 feet) tall — taller than three grown-ups standing on each other's shoulders.
- A giraffe's tongue is about 45–50 cm long — as long as your arm — and it's dark purple-blue, which works like sunscreen so it doesn't get sunburned.
- Giraffes have seven bones in their neck — the same as you! Yours are small; a giraffe's are each as long as your arm.
- A baby giraffe is called a calf. It is born while its mum is standing up, so it drops almost 2 metres to the ground. The bump actually helps it take its first breath.
- A newborn calf is already taller than a grown-up human — about 1.8 metres — and can run within a few hours.
- Giraffes eat leaves, not grass. They love the leaves of thorny acacia trees and can eat about 30 kilograms of leaves a day.
- Their spots are like fingerprints. No two giraffes have the same pattern, so scientists can tell them apart from photos.
- A group of giraffes is called a "tower." A perfect name for such tall animals!
- Giraffes hardly sleep — often only about 30 minutes to a few hours a day, and usually standing up.
- Giraffes can run fast — up to about 60 km/h (37 mph) for a short way.
- A giraffe's heart is huge — about 11 kilograms — because it has to pump blood all the way up that long neck.
- Giraffes barely need to drink. They get most of their water from leaves, so they can go a long time without a drink — which is lucky, because bending down to drink is tricky!
- A giraffe's closest cousin is the okapi, a shy forest animal with stripy legs that looks nothing like a giraffe.
- Giraffes "neck" — the boys swing their necks and heads at each other to see who is strongest.
- Scientists now know there are four giraffe species: northern, reticulated, Masai, and southern giraffes.
Why are giraffes so tall?
Giraffes are built to reach food high in the trees that other animals can't get to. Their long necks and long legs lift them up to the tastiest leaves, and their height helps them see far across the land to spot lions. Even though the neck is so long, remember — it still has just seven bones, exactly like yours, only much, much bigger. Learn more in how tall is a giraffe.
Where do giraffes live?
Giraffes live only in Africa, in savannas, woodlands, and dry areas with lots of trees — never in jungles or icy places. They need trees for food and plenty of space to walk around as the seasons change. Some giraffes live in big national parks, and others live on land looked after by local communities.
Are giraffes in danger?
Some giraffes are in trouble, and some are doing better — it depends on which species and where. The good news is that three of the four species are growing again because people are protecting their land and stopping poaching. That means helping giraffes really works! You can read the grown-up version in are giraffes endangered.
How can you help giraffes?
Even kids can help giraffes:
- Learn and share true giraffe facts (like these!) with friends and family.
- Protect their home by supporting people who look after giraffe land and trees.
- Support rangers, the brave people who keep giraffes safe.
- Care about all wildlife, because saving giraffe land saves lots of other animals too.
Giraffes need trees, space, and safety. When people protect those, giraffes come back — and you can be part of that.
A note for teachers and parents: every fact here is checked against the IUCN and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. For more, see our complete giraffe facts guide and how to help giraffes.
Keep reading
Sources
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance — giraffe
- IUCN — Four giraffe species officially recognised (2025)
- Giraffe Conservation Foundation — facts about giraffe
Reviewed against IUCN, Giraffe Conservation Foundation, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance sources. Last updated July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us — a reference earns trust by correcting fast.