It's hard not to love a giraffe. They aren't threatening, though apparently they can kill you if they decide to kick you really hard. They are really handsome animals, and there are some color variations when you see several together. In my view they are one of the most photogenic animals. They stand out, and above, the brush.
Our South African friend, Ronel, lists giraffes as her favorite animal, and she has seen a lot of animals over the years.
The above Giraffe we named Edwin. Not sure why the name, but the poor animal came to a waterhole to drink along with rhino, zebra, warthog, and impala. There were some noisy tourists out of their vehicle in the parking lot (not us, this time) and it disconcerted Edwin a great deal. He would come to the water hole, but before he could get a drink he'd lose his nerve and walk away.
One time, I thought he was going to drink. He spread those long front legs, lowered his towering head within a meter of the water, and then got scared and walked off! We were pulling for him, to not avail. Fortunately night was coming swiftly and tourists have to leave at dark, so Edwin had peace in just a few more minutes.
Giraffes are a marvel of physiology. They need strong, strong hearts to pump blood up so far. On the other hand this high blood pressure would cause a stroke every time a giraffe bent over to drink, if it weren't for a special circulatory adaptation in their brain.
Isn't evolution a wonderful thing? NOT.
If giraffes need a super cardiovascular system, think what a brachiosaurus needed! Giraffes are just another ode to creation and the Creator, I guess.
We went on a 'safari ride' close to Calloway Gardens a few years back. We saw zebra/horses, rhino, different monkeys, ligress's, and a bunch of fowl. But the giraffe's! Oh, I loved them. They had lost their bashsfulness toward people of course, and would come from some distance away when the bus stopped. The ambled over and would try to stick their heads in the windows for treats. they could either get an eyeball in to see us, or a snout/tongue in to get the treat. They are so....big. They have to stand a ways off to be able to get all of 'em in a picture. They seemed to be gentle giants, indeed.
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