Giraffes (Giraffa sp.)

[Spalea]

Beverly Joubert: " Standing tall. When posing on an open Kenyan plain - in their typically regal stature – giraffes are the embodiment of elegance and poise. But make no mistake, if two males disagree they quickly abandon their composure and swing their heads at one another’s necks in attempts to bludgeon their way to dominance. Many of these “necking” rituals are low-grade affairs – an opportunity for the giraffes to size up their rivals by leaning and pushing against one another. Full-scale sparring is a more dramatic event. Bulls brace their legs and use their upper bodies like sledgehammers, throwing their heads in wide-reaching sweeps. In some instances, the loser may be knocked out cold.⁣

⁣Fortunately, there’ll be no head-swinging for this mating pair – just a lot of lofty showing off, almost as if they know they are a head and neck above everything else!⁣ "

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