These four graceful giraffes are drinking at the waterhole while the sun sets across wild Namibia. The sunset is casting all the surfaces in charming shades of pink and orange. In the foreground, space is taken up by the water, which has reflections of the giraffes drinking.
As you can tell, giraffe’s necks are too short of reaching the ground because of the length of their legs. That is why they have to spread their legs wider and awkwardly bend down to drink. This position leaves them quite vulnerable. The primary defense that giraffes have against predators is their enormous size. Generally, predators don’t usually go for them unless they are sick or have young. They are also surprisingly quick, running at a speed of 55 km / 35 mph. However, if a predator gets too close, they will use their sturdy legs to kick. Indeed sometimes killing the animal that gets in the way, such as lions and crocodiles. The predators will often go for them as giraffes are drinking and in that vulnerable position.
Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis, are in category vulnerable on the IUCN red list.
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