Meet the tower of giraffe found at the Abilene Zoo.
Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. Their legs alone are taller than many humans - about 6 feet.
They can run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances or cruise at 10 mph over longer distances.
Giraffes only need to drink once every few days. Most of their water comes from all the plants they eat.
Giraffes spend most of their lives standing up; they even sleep and give birth standing up.
Slight sexual dimorphism: males have bigger ossicones, and the males fight for females. They use the ossicones for defense in the wild.
Scientists think they did not grow horns like rhinos since it would get in the way of reaching the leaves.
Ossicones on babies are pushed in to keep the mom and the baby safe during birth. This is much like the soft bones of a human baby.
Males are called bulls and females are called cows. The babies are called calves. These names are just like West Texas cattle. The Zoo Keepers know the giraffe herd very well. All of the giraffes have very different personalities.
With more animals than anywhere else in West Texas, you're in for a WILD day at the Abilene Zoo
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