Animal Directory Featured species in the planned African Savannah habitat
Photo: Gary T. Leavens CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons
Reticulated Giraffe
Giraffa reticulata
Young Explorer Notes
Three quick things to know about the Reticulated Giraffe.
- Superpower
Stands up to 5.5 metres tall — the tallest land animal alive today, and the icon of African Savannah's feeding platform.
- Home
Wide golden grasslands with acacia trees and open sky.
- How to help
Endangered — heroes needed!
Zoos and conservation teams work together to save endangered animals and their habitats.
Fun facts for everyone
- Stands up to 5.5 metres tall — the tallest land animal alive today, and the icon of African Savannah's feeding platform.
- Heart weighs around 11 kg and pumps blood up a 2-metre neck against gravity to reach the brain.
- Tongue is around 45 cm long, prehensile, and a dark blue-purple — the colour is thought to protect against sunburn during long feeding sessions.
- Sleeps in short bursts totalling roughly 30 minutes a day, almost always standing.
- IUCN treats the Reticulated Giraffe as a distinct species; it was assessed Endangered in 2018 after a 56% population decline over three decades.
From the master plan
The Reticulated Giraffe is the species hosts feed by hand at the African Savannah’s elevated platform. Its sharply outlined coat is the visual signature of the zone and one of the most photographed moments in the park’s planned journey.
IUCN status sourced from the Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) assessment (Muneza et al., 2018) on the IUCN Red List — listed as Endangered with a continuing population decline.
Find them in
African Savannah
Open grasslands with iconic wildlife and elevated viewing
Visit African Savannah
