What they do is they gather in herds so that others can watch for predators. Still, their diet does extend well beyond the more commonly eaten plants just mentioned. In the late 19th and 20th centuries herds of 20 to 30 animals were recorded, now on average herd sizes contain fewer than six individuals. All food and water for giraffes in zoos rises to the level of their heads. The elongated neck of giraffes helps them to reach the leaves of tall trees up to 5 meters height, which no other animal can, except for the elephants and with the aid of their trunk; This is a great advantage for giraffes, as they do not compete for food with other animals. Giraffes range in the wild throughout Africa, but are most often found are in combined savannas and woodlands. They eat the browse that others cannot reach, which promotes growth of forage and opens up areas for themselves and other smaller browsers to make use of. In the zoo, the menu of giraffes is more diverse than in the wild. The number of giraffes in the wild is shrinking as their habitats shrink. Giraffes become more vulnerable while drinking water because they have a long neck to bend while drinking. In the wild giraffes can eat … Giraffes typically eat leaves from acacia trees, mimosa trees, and wild apricot trees. Giraffe’s are vital to keeping ecosystems in balance. Do Giraffes Make Noise? Giraffes dont usually come too much in contact with humans and animals, but when they do it's usually animals such as lions, leopards, hyenas, and others. There are over 1,300 species of acacia trees and they grow abundantly on the African plains. There are also isolates, male bulls who live alone. It takes a lot of leaves to fuel such a large animal. Whenever someone sees one of the tallest animals in the world stride by, either in the wild or in the zoo, the thought must have crossed their mind – what do giraffes eat? Its diet includes leaves, grass (clover), oat flakes, hay, bananas, oranges, and carrots. Importantly this means that by protecting Africa’s giraffes, we are protecting other species too. What they eat depends on the time of year and where they inhabit. What trees do giraffes eat? They can mostly be found in east Africa or southwest Africa. 7. During the dry season, giraffes eat evergreen leaves, however, once the rainy season begins, they switch to new leaves and stems that sprout on deciduous trees. While other African herbivores compete for grass and small plants to eat, giraffes have the high branches with tender, young leaves all to themselves. Giraffes may eat up to 75 pounds (34 kilograms) of food per day. What do giraffes at the zoo eat? However, giraffes do not lay down for long periods of time due to the threat posed by predators like lions, wild dogs, leopards, and hyenas. Also, twigs and branches are pulled into the mouth of the giraffe with their long and dextrous tongues. If they eat leaves like acacia they can survive without water for a … In case of an attack by a predator, giraffes are able to raise an alarm by grunting and moaning. Giraffes living in the wild usually prefer ares loaded with shrubs, trees, savannas, grasslands and open woodlands. They are social creatures who mostly live in one of two types of herds: adult females and their offspring, and bachelor herds. Giraffes can make noise! There is also the food in the zoo that giraffes like to eat the most: bread. And they also show individual food preferences. What do Giraffes Eat? Giraffes prefer to eat new shoots and leaves, mainly from the thorny acacia tree. Giraffes can eat hard plant food such as leaves. The most iconic tree in a giraffe’s diet is the acacia tree. Since giraffes are basically herbivores, they feed on a variety of shrubs, flowers, leaves, twigs, … Cows in particular select high-energy low-fibre items. In the wild, giraffes primarily eat the leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees (also various trees and shrubs in the genera Commiphora and Terminalia). Giraffes are well adapted for living on the open, tree-dotted African plains. Subscribe Now. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Giraffes eat new shoots and leaves, ... Giraffes live up to 26 years in the wild and slightly longer in captivity. They even eat some fruit.