Giraffes Are Awesome

"I'm more of a west-coast slalom giraffe" - Giraffe

Giraffes are, probably, natures most perfect creation.  They are functional - long necks to get food in the trees, and they are adorable - funny faces, awkward bodies, spots.  The above picture, which we can't verify being 100% authentic, got us thinking...are giraffes actually good waterskiers?  Can they, in fact, cure grumpiness with a funny walk?

Lets learn some more about giraffes, take it away Wiki

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant. Its specific name refers to its camel-like face and irregular patches of color on a light background, which bear a vague resemblance to a leopard's spots. The giraffe is also noted for its extremely long neck and legs and prominent horns. It stands 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall and has an average weight of 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) for males and 830 kg (1,800 lb) for females. It is classified under the family Giraffidae, along with its closest extant relative, the okapi. There are nine subspecies of giraffe, which differ in size, coloration, pattern and range.

I KNOW!!!  Classified under the family Giraffidae???  NO WAY!!  Lets delve deeper into some giraffe facts and funny pictures!!!
All these facts are from here (link)

Eats up to 75 pounds of food a day (typically Acacia leaves)

Tongue is 18 inches long

Have a four chambered stomach and will regurgitate their food for additional chewing – similarly to a cow.

Typically get most of their water from the Acacia leaf, but will drink up to 10 gallons of water per day.

Although rarely heard, Giraffes can moo, hiss, roar and whistle to communicate with one another

Have the longest tail of any land mammal – up to 8 feet long, including the tuft at the end.

Ancient Romans and Greeks thought that the Giraffe was a mix between a camel and a leopard. This is where their scientific Genus name of "camelopardalis" comes from.

Their heart is 2 feet long and weighs about 25 pounds

The heart's muscular walls are several inches thick

They have the highest known blood pressure of any mammal in the world – up to 280/180mm Hg when prone at heart level (approximately twice that of an average human)

Jugular vein contains a series of one way valves that prevent the back flow of blood when the Giraffes head is down to drink water. This prevents the Giraffe from blacking out.

Oxpeckers(tick birds) are often seen "hitching" a ride on the backs of Giraffes. They help keep the Giraffe parasite free by eating ticks and other parasites off of the Giraffes skin.

Have no tear ducts, although they have been seen crying

Have never been observed bathing

Mom Giraffes form a type of daycare for their young. One of the females in the heard will stay behind and baby sits all of the youngsters while the rest of the females go out foraging for food.

Despite its extreme length, the Giraffes neck is actually too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread its front legs or kneel on its front legs in order to reach the ground to drink water.

It is the tallest animal in the world

Males stand 16-18 feet; Females 14-16 feet, Males weigh up to 2,000 pounds; Females a bit lighter

Usually only sleep 5 minutes at a time, when sleeping, the giraffe generally lies on the ground, tucking its front legs under itself, then curls its neck back and rests its head on its rump.

A baby is generally 6 feet tall and will weigh about 150 pounds at birth

A baby will fall approximately 6 feet during birth before hitting the ground

A giraffe has only two gaits: walking and galloping. Walking is done by moving the legs on one side of the body at the same time, then doing the same on the other side.[27] When galloping, the giraffe's front and hind legs work in pairs.

The animal brings its hind legs ahead of and outside its front legs. The front legs then move forward.[13] While galloping, the tail will curl up.[27] The head and neck also move back and forth to maintain balance and counter the momentum.[8]:327–29 The giraffe can reach a sprint speed of up to 60 km/h (37 mph)[32] but cannot sustain a lengthy chase. (wiki)

Thats incredible! Now, go share all these giraffe facts with your friends and co-workers! CRB Cares.