World Giraffe Day

Giraffes are social and intelligent creatures. Towering above the African savannah, they are one of the most recognisable animals on the planet. Celebrate World Giraffe Day with us by learning more about the world’s tallest land animal.

About World Giraffe Day

World Giraffe Day (also known as International Giraffe Day) is held on June 21st every year. This date was chosen because it felt fitting to celebrate the world’s tallest animal on the longest day of the year.

World Giraffe Day is an opportunity to celebrate these incredible creatures' beauty, intelligence, and uniqueness. It’s also a great time to learn about the threats giraffes face — and try to do something about them.

Giraffes are threatened by illegal poaching and trophy hunting. They are also exploited in faux sanctuaries, kept for the entertainment of tourists rather than their well-being.

6 fun giraffe facts

All giraffe species live in the grasslands and open woodlands of Africa. Types of giraffes include the northern giraffe, the southern giraffe, the Masai giraffe, and the reticulated giraffe.
Giraffes are wild animals. They don’t want to interact with humans — even in captivity.
A group of giraffes is called a tower, the perfect collective name for the tallest animal on Earth.
African giraffes are hunted for sport. Trophy hunters pay to hunt these wild animals in their natural habitat.
Giraffes are pregnant for a long time. Giraffe gestation lasts for 15 months.
Giraffes aren’t particularly noisy animals. However, scientists are uncovering a range of giraffe sounds. They snort and hiss when threatened — and female giraffes make a bellowing noise to their calves.

Are giraffes endangered? Threats to giraffes explained

Giraffes are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and their population is decreasing. They face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Here are some of the threats that giraffes are facing.

Trophy hunting

Animals — including giraffes — are deliberately killed for sport. Hunters pay a fee and are allowed to hunt these wild animals, returning home with animal body parts that they can put on display.

Tourism industry

Giraffes are kept in zoos, amusement parks, and “giraffe ranches” across the world. Unlike a real animal sanctuary, these places are run for profit, with giraffes exploited to attract customers. In these environments, giraffes are stressed and unable to engage in their usual social behaviours. They are used for tourist selfies and cruel animal feeding experiences.

Climate change and the farming industry

Climate change increases the risk of wildfires, loss of habitat, and human population movement. This means less space for giraffes to roam, find food, and find a mate. As a key driver of climate change, factory farming indirectly impacts giraffe survival.

How do we celebrate World Giraffe Day?

You can celebrate World Giraffe Day by taking action to protect giraffes and their habitats. Here’s what you can do:

Learn to identify a real animal sanctuary dedicated to genuine giraffe conservation. Then, offer your support.
Boycott activities that harm or stress wild animals, opting for responsible wildlife-watching tourism instead.
Eat less meat. By doing so, you prevent animal habitats from being transformed into farmland. You also help to combat global warming.
Join our campaigns to push organisations and governments to safeguard animals and the habitats they rely on.
Donate to World Animal Protection and help us continue our work to protect wildlife everywhere.
Sign up for our newsletter to find out about new ways you can help.

Many animals need your help. Find out about other animal awareness days.

Two elephants embrace each other playfully with their trunks

You can make a difference for vulnerable animals

Donate now

When you make a donation, you’ll join a passionate group of supporters who are determined to change the world for animals. We're fighting animal cruelty wherever we find it — are you with us?

Click to donate

Giraffe FAQS

What do giraffes eat?

Giraffes are herbivores. They eat shoots and leaves and particularly like the thorny acacia tree. A male giraffe can eat 65 kilograms of food in a single day.

How tall is a giraffe?

Giraffe height can be more than 5.5 metres. Even baby giraffes are tall. A newborn giraffe is 2 metres tall.

How long do giraffes sleep?

Giraffes sleep for just 4 hours every 24 hours. They tend to doze for short bursts of 5 to 30 minutes.

How long do giraffes live?

In the wild, giraffes live to around 26 years old. They can live longer in captivity, due to the lack of predators, but have a much lower quality of life. In zoos and similar settings, giraffes can suffer from limited space, hard flooring that causes joint problems, and stress from confinement and frequent human interaction

How long is a giraffe's tongue?

Giraffes have incredibly long tongues that measure up to 50 centimetres. They extend their long tongues to grab food from trees.

Do giraffes have horns?

Both male and female giraffes have a pair of horns. Male giraffe horns tend to be more pronounced. Males use their horns and powerful necks to fight one another when competing for dominance and mating rights.

Sign Up Now

First Name

Surname

Email Address

Country:

I confirm I am 18 years or older(*)

By submitting this form, I agree to receive further communications from World Animal Protection and understand I can opt out at any time. For information on how we use your details, and how we keep your details safe, please read our privacy policy.