Social organization and behaviour of giraffe in Tsavo East National Park
Social organization and behaviour of giraffes were studied in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, by means of road strip counts and observations of individually known animals. Most groups comprised of one to ten animals, with a maximum of thirty‐five and a mean of 3.8. Group size and composition varied locally to some extent. Single adult […]
Not all ants are equal: obligate acacia ants provide different levels of protection against mega-herbivores
In obligate ant–plant mutualisms, the asymmetric engagement of a single plant species with multiple ant species provides the opportunity for partners to vary in their behaviour. Variation in behaviour has implications for the interactions with third-party species such as herbivores. This study assessed the effect of obligate ant mutualists (Crematogaster mimosae, Crematogaster nigriceps and Tetraponera […]
Gazing at a giraffe gyroscope: where are we going?
Giraffe are popular animals to watch while on wildlife safaris, and feature prominently in zoos, advertisements, toys and cartoons. Yet, until recently, few field studies have focused on giraffe. We introduce this giraffe topic issue with a review essay that explores five primary questions: How many (sub) species of giraffe exist? What are the dynamics […]
Food preferences in giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis in the arid bushveld of the western transvaal
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Tactile encounters in a herd of captive giraffe
The behavior of the members of the herd of 18 giraffes at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, was studied for 5 months. The individuals were tolerant of each other, seldom fighting, not even over a receptive female. Sexually active males were the most active in initiating encounters. Calves showed little interest in the adult members […]
Giraffe and okapi medicine and surgery
An overview on medicine and surgery in giraffe and okapi. Includes details on their unique anatomy and physiology, an overview on both physical and chemical restraint of these species, and information on infectious, parasitic, and non-infectious diseases.
The Luangwa Valley Giraffe
Observations by the author on Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti between 1963 and 1969 are supplemented by other data. Its distribution in recent years has extended northwards as far as 11*50′ South on the east bank of the Luangwa River and its number have increased on the west bank in placed previously sparsely inhabited. It is difficult […]
Food habits of giraffe in Tsavo National Park, Kenya
In the context of a broader ecological investigation, food habits of giraffe were studied in Tsavo National Park (East). The only method employed was direct observation of feeding animals in the field. Each instance in which one animal fed on one individual plant was counted as one food record for this plant species; 4025 records […]
Notes on the biology of the giraffe
During a 3-year study in Nairobi National Park, 1965–1968, 250 giraffe were identified by their neck markings. The herd structure of these animals was studied, including the relationships between particular individuals. Population information collected included the times of calving, the growth and longevity of giraffe, their reproductive potential, the age structure of the population and […]
The reaction of a group of Rothschild’s giraffe to a new environment
The behaviour of a translocated group of 11 Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi Lydekker) was studied for 9 weeks in 1968. A comparison was made between their new and former habitats, the food plants eaten in both places, and behaviour. For 3.5 months after release, they appeared to have settled in the area, but they suddenly […]