Masai Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi
Size: | Up to 6m high |
Habitat: | Savanna and woodlands |
Feeding: | Foliage, thorns and bark |
The Masai Giraffe is the tallest land mammal, larger than the Reticulated Giraffe. It is a very graceful creature but can gallop at speeds of up to 56 kph.
It has jagged red/brown markings on its coat and a tassel on its tail. Both sexes have short horns, but the female horns are tufted.
They have a lifespan of 20 - 28 years.
The top photo shows a female having some dental treatment from a Red-billed Oxpecker! The second photo shows two males "necking" - a fight between males to establish dominance by hitting each other with the neck and head.
These photos were taken in Amboseli National Park and the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Click on any of the photographs on this site to see a larger image.