On WORLD GIRAFFE DAY – 21st June; celebrate the majestic and beautiful Giraffe whose number have been declining over the past few years
It is a less known fact that giraffe numbers all over Africa are under serious threat due to vanishing habitats and poaching. There are nine different subspecies of giraffe across Africa and there is growing evidence to suggest that some might be separate species in their own right. Six of the nine subspecies are endangered and their numbers are dropping every year. Three subspecies are found in Kenya, the Maasai Giraffe, the Rothschild’s Giraffe and the Reticulated Giraffe. The latter two are both highly endangered with fewer than 700 and 4000 left in the wild respectively.
The History of World Giraffe Day
In early celebration of 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 on Sunday, this Wednesday we have a look at this incredibly beautiful and iconic African species!It’s a special day to celebrate on as here in the Southern Hemisphere, we have our Winter Solstice, meaning after this, days gradually start getting longer again!! If you’re reading this from the Northern Hemisphere, enjoy your longest day and hopefully lots of sunshine too! It is not a widely known fact that sadly these intelligent animals are vulnerable to extinction! There are estimated to be only 111,000 giraffes remaining in ALL of Africa.
Did you know this about giraffes?
- • Their heart weighs about 12kgs!!!
- • Being so tall, they are unintentional pollinators, feeding on the tops of trees that other herbivores can’t reach, then carrying pollen across from tree to tree as they feed, especially on acacias – their favourite!
- • Giraffes arch their necks to force wind through their windpipes, creating very low frequency sounds.
- • Calves are already almost 2m tall when they’re born!
- • A group of giraffes are called a ‘𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓’ or a ‘𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚’ – the latter especially fitting when they are traversing across an open savannah plain!
- • They need less sleep than any other mammal, about 30 minutes in a 24-hour period is sufficient, taken intermittently throughout the day!!A giraffe constellation has been identified in the northern hemisphere skies since 1612!
How to celebrate World Giraffe Day
Be sure to share information about giraffe conservation on your social networking accounts, and get the conversation started about keeping these beautiful animals a part of our wildlife.
The best thing you can do, therefore, is to help them in their effort and protect this marvelous species.
WORLD GIRAFFE DAY – 21st June, 2020
World Giraffe Day is this Sunday! With Covid19 closures and business opening modifications we are sticking to digital fundraising. Tomorrow we are hosting an online giraffe drawing class, link to registration in the bio, and we have a 20% off sale on most giraffe-themed merchandise until June 21st (World Giraffe Day). Reach your neck out for these gentle iconic mammals.
