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The Structure of Social Relationships Among Captive Female Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Giraffe herds have been characterized as random associations of individuals, but recent evidence suggests giraffe have a more complex social structure. The authors formulated 3 hypotheses designed to evaluate whether a herd of captive giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) associated randomly or patterned their behavior and proximity in a manner indicative of social relationships. Affiliative interaction, proximity, and nearest neighbors for 6 captive female giraffe living in a large outdoor enclosure were analyzed, and all three measures were nonrandomly distributed, indicating female

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Using claw marks to study lion predation on giraffes of the Serengeti

Although lions Panthera leo are the main predators of the giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, interactions between these species are rarely observed directly. As a consequence, little is known about the effects of lions on giraffe mortality and behavior. We test patterns of lion predation on Masai giraffes Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi using a new methodology: lion claw marks observable on the skin of live giraffes. We studied 702 individually known giraffes in 3 non-neighboring areas of Serengeti National Park, Tanzania between August

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Serum concentration comparisons of amino acids, fatty acids, lipoproteins, vitamins A and E, and minerals between zoo and free-ranging giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Serum concentrations of amino acids, fatty acids, lipoproteins, vitamins A and E, and minerals in zoo giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) were compared to values obtained from free-ranging giraffes in an effort to identify potential nutritional differences in the zoo population. Zoo giraffes have a specific set of maladies that may be nutritionally related, including peracute mortality, energy malnutrition, pancreatic disease, urolithiasis, hoof disease, and severe intestinal parasitism. Dietary requirements for giraffes are not known; invasive studies used with domestic animals cannot

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Characterization of eight polymorphic loci for Maasai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) using non-invasive genetic samples

We used Illumina sequencing to develop eight novel microsatellite loci for Maasai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi), and screened them using fecal DNA. Genetic diversity was assessed for 40 individuals from the Katavi National Park/Rukwa Game Reserve ecosystem in Tanzania. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 14 (mean = 6.2) and mean expected heterozygosity was moderate (range 0.025–0.838, mean = 0.527). These markers were successfully tested using degraded DNA and may be useful for future studies of

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Social networks, long-term associations and age-related sociability of wild giraffes

Long-term studies of sociality in wild animals are rare, despite being critical for determining the benefits of social relationships and testing how long such relationships last and whether they change as individuals age. Knowledge about social relationships in animal species that exhibit fission-fusion dynamics can enhance our understanding of the evolution of close social bonds in humans, who also have a fission-fusion social system. We analysed the social network of wild giraffes, Giraffa camelopardalis, in Etosha National Park, Namibia, from

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Condensed tannin as anti-defoliate agent against browsing by giraffe (Girafla camelopardalis) in the Kruger National Park

The feeding behaviour of giraffes in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, was observed over 12 months and the diet analysed for condensed tannin content. Supportive evidence was found for plant defence against excessive browsing by means of tannin biosynthesis. Condensed tannin negatively influenced acceptability and nutritional value of dietary browse to giraffes. The giraffes avoided high condensed tannin levels. Tannin content of dietary foliage increased due to browse disturbance. Tannin levels fluctuated daily within the canopy of individual plants

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A comparison of the bone density and morphology of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) and buffalo (Syncerus caffer) skeletons

Unique features of giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis anatomy are its long neck and slender long limbs. Its neck vertebrae should be light and have low density to make it manoeuvrable while the limb bones should have high density to provide the strength to support the giraffe’s mass. Giraffes also have a very high vertical growth rate, a diet with a high Ca:P ratio, and a skeleton that constitutes a high proportion of its body mass. To investigate whether the giraffe skeleton

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Is the Flow in the Giraffe’s Jugular Vein a “Free” fall?

There is a controversy as to whether or not the heart works against gravity in the arteries to the head in the upright position. One view is that the gravitational effects in the neck arteries are counterbalanced by the gravitational effects in the veins of the neck and the heart does not do extra pressure work. This concept has been challenged by others who claim that the heart works against gravity based on the notion that jugular vein is collapsed

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Developing models for mother–infant behaviour in Black rhinoceros and Reticulated giraffe (Diceros bicornis michaeli and Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) at Brookfield Zoo, Illinois

For over a decade the behaviours of mothers and newborn calves of Black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis michaeli and Reticulated giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata have been observed at Brookfield Zoo during the critical first few weeks post-partum. Consistent patterns were seen for individuals within species, allowing models of time budgets, including ranges of variability surrounding each behaviour, to be developed. Once the model is created any data collected for neonates can be compared to the mean values in the model so

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Giraffe fact sheet

Giraffes are one of the world’s tallest mammals. They are well known for their long necks, long legs, and spotted patterns. Giraffes have small “horns” or knobs on top of their heads that grow to be about five inches long. These knobs are used to protect the head in fights.

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