Mammal · GBIF taxon 9163257
Maasai Giraffe
Giraffa tippelskirchiAlso known as Masai Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Giraffe
Maasai giraffes are the tallest land mammals on Earth, distinguished by dark, starburst-like or leaf-shaped blotches that extend all the way down to their hooves. They spend up to eighteen hours a day browsing acacia canopy leaves, using a prehensile forty-centimeter tongue to strip vegetation while ignoring severe thorns. Females form fluid social groups that nursery-herd young calves together, defending them from lions and hyenas across open woodland savannas.
SavannaHerbivoreTallest Mammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Acacia foliage
- Vachellia shoots
- Bushwillow leaves
Predators
- Lion
- Spotted Hyena
- Leopard
ThreatsHabitat loss, land conversion, illegal poaching, civil unrest
HabitatsSavannas, open acacia woodlands, shrublands
Life span20–25 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderArtiodactyla
- FamilyGiraffidae
- GenusGiraffa
- SpeciesGiraffa tippelskirchi
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Maintain a safe distance; these massive animals can kick forcefully if threatened or cornered.
- Why it is dangerous
- Massive body size paired with muscular legs enables powerful downward kicks capable of causing lethal impacts.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Towering height, long neck, and jagged, leaf-like patches extending down to the hooves.
- What to do
- Stay inside safari vehicles and keep a distance of at least thirty meters during foot safaris.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by dark, starburst-shaped patches on a buff coat and a distinctive towering silhouette.
- Support conservation
- Follow guided safari routes strictly to prevent disturbing maternal crèches and feeding herds.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Stay inside safari vehicles and maintain distance to avoid altering natural feeding routines.
- Photography: Use a telephoto lens to capture individual coat patterns without getting too close.
- Safety: Avoid positioning vehicles between a mother and her calf to prevent defensive behavior.
Predator "African Lion" by Mathias Appel is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/. · cc0
Close Relative (c) Michal Sloviak, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michal Sloviak · cc-by
Close Relative Thomas Fuhrmann / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Melvin TOULLEC, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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