Giraffes are the tallest mammal on earth and elegant wanderers of the savanna.

Here are 5 interesting facts about these towering animals.

1. Giraffes' spots are like human fingerprints

No two giraffes' spots are the same. Just like humans can be identified by their fingerprints, giraffes can too with their spot patterns.

2. A camel in leopard's clothing

The scientific name for giraffe is, Giraffa camelopardalis. This was because the Ancient Greeks thought that giraffes looked like camels in leopard coats!

3. Female giraffes give birth while standing

This means that the baby giraffe is welcomed to the world with a 1.5 metre drop to the ground. But fortunately they are quick to find their footing, taking only 30 minutes to stand up and learning to run within hours.

4. Giraffes don't sleep much

Giraffes only need 5 to 30 minutes in a 24 hour period to sleep. This is usually done in short intervals throughout the day. They mainly sleep standing up, but will occasionally lie down to rest their necks.

5. Their horns are called ossicones

The males use their horns to fight, this usually causes them to lose their hair. This fact is useful to identify a male and female giraffe - Female horns are hairy, males are bald.

Don’t miss out on future posts so be sure to sign up for our Wild Tribe (scroll below to sign up).