Monarto Safari Park

Monarto Safari Park is a non-government conservation charity, every visit, adoption, donation and ticket helps to save species from extinction.

Animal Facts

  • Genus:

    Giraffa
  • Species:

    Giraffa camelopardalis
  • Conservation
    Status:

    Vulnerable
  • Found In:

    Africa
  • Height:

    5-6m
  • Weight:

    Approx 1,190kg

Meet ginormous giraffe!

Fifteen giraffes inhabit our drive-through waterhole, while a bachelor group of eight giraffe bulls are housed in an off-limits area of Monarto Safari Park. 2 bulls have moved into our new Wild Africa precinct.

The first calf was born at the park in 1995. The birth was a landmark event, because the herd went on to produce over 57 subsequent calves, making Monarto Safari Park the most successful giraffe breeding institution in Australasia.

You can meet Monarto’s boys during a Giraffe Safari animal experience, where visitors get the chance to come face to face to hand feed these gentle giants.

The giraffe is found in the arid and dry savannah regions of Africa south of the Sahara Desert wherever trees occur.

Giraffes form big, loose nomadic herds that wander the plains, feeding on vegetation as they go. They’re predominantly browsing animals, meaning they tend to eat leaves and bark off trees as the main part of their diet. This feeding pattern has allowed the giraffe to develop two very famous evolutionary traits – a very long neck and a very long, prehensile tongue that can extend up to 45cm! Both of these physical features allow giraffes to reach vegetation that is difficult to get to, giving it an advantage over other animals.

Giraffes are extremely picky eaters, favouring acacia trees, although they feed for up to 20 hours a day and consume approximately 30kg of foliage daily. A six-foot tall calf grows rapidly, as much as 2.5cm a day, and by six months old is fairly independent of its mother.

The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, averaging two hours daily. Individual giraffes have a unique pattern on their coat, just like fingerprints are unique to each human.

It is estimated there are approximately 80,000 giraffe roaming the savannah plains of Africa. This number is declining as their habitats shrinks due to human population growth and an increase in agricultural activity, expanding settlements and road construction. The giraffe’s main food source, acacia trees, is also on the decline.

Love giraffes? Join the herd and ensure giraffes stay a stride ahead of extinction! There are many ways you can help support these gentle giants. 

Get Involved

Adopt Donate Membership

About Zoos SA

Zoos SA is a not-for-profit conservation charity that exists to connect people with nature and save species from extinction.

Zoos SA acknowledges the Country on which we stand always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land and we pay our deepest respect and gratitude to Kaurna (Adelaide Zoo) and Ngarrindjeri (Monarto Safari Park) Elders, past, present and emerging.

We undertake critical conservation work throughout Australia and acknowledge the traditional custodians of these lands.

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