The giraffe is an iconic African mammal and the tallest living terrestrial animal in the world. Adult male giraffes (bulls) stand 16-18 feet tall and weigh 2,400-3,000 pounds, while females (cows) are slightly shorter at 14-16 feet and lighter at 1,600-2,600 pounds. Their most distinctive feature is their extremely long neck, which can measure up to 6 feet but contains only seven vertebrae - the same number as humans and most other mammals. Each vertebra is simply much longer. Giraffes have long, slender legs that are also about 6 feet tall, making even newborn giraffes taller than most adult humans. Their coat features a pattern of irregular brown, russet, or nearly black patches separated by lighter tan or cream lines, with each subspecies having slightly different pattern variations.

Giraffes are social animals that live in loose, open herds called towers, typically consisting of 10-20 individuals, though group size and composition change frequently. Males establish dominance through "necking" - a behavior where they swing their heavy heads and necks at each other like clubs. Despite their peaceful appearance, these blows can be powerful enough to knock opponents down. Female giraffes give birth standing up after a 15-month pregnancy, and the 6-foot fall to the ground actually helps stimulate the newborn to take its first breath. Calves can stand within an hour and run within 10 hours of birth - essential survival skills in a landscape filled with predators. Young giraffes stay with their mothers for about 15-18 months, and females often form nursery groups where they take turns watching each other's calves.

Once abundant throughout Africa with populations over 150,000 in the 1980s, giraffe numbers have declined by about 40% over the past three decades, leading to their classification as "vulnerable" to extinction. Today, fewer than 117,000 giraffes remain in the wild, and some subspecies are critically endangered. The main threats include habitat loss from expanding agriculture and human settlements, poaching for meat and body parts, and civil unrest in some African regions that disrupts conservation efforts. Climate change is also reducing available food and water in some areas. Conservation organizations are working to protect giraffe habitat, create wildlife corridors connecting isolated populations, and combat illegal hunting. Several countries have established protected areas and national parks where giraffes can live safely, and breeding programs help ensure genetic diversity for future generations.