 Giraffe Exhibit
Head and Shoulders Above
the Rest!
The Living Desert's family of reticulated giraffes are
here! Now reaching maturity in 2006, these 5 year olds stand
almost 16 feet tall. By the time they are full grown, they will
reach heights of 18 feet. These awesome creatures have taken up
residence in our Giraffe Exhibit, an impressive three-acre compound
that represents the first stage in the development of our African
Savanna.
Everything about the giraffe is supersized. It is the tallest of
all land animals. A full-grown giraffe can weigh up to 4,000 pounds,
with a neck six feet long! Despite this length, a giraffe's neck
has only seven vertebrae, the same as a human. A giraffe's head
alone can measure some two feet (so does its heart!), and its feet
can be as large as dinner plates. Speaking of dinner, giraffe can
typically eat 75 pounds of food a day. Despite their size, giraffes
move with amazing agility and grace.
The new Giraffe Exhibit includes towering palms and acacia trees,
a watering hole and an elevated feeding station. An animal chat
is done a the feeding platform daily by volunteer staff where visitors
may be able to see the giraffes for an up-close view.
Sharing space with The Living Desert's giraffes are three adult
ostriches - two males and one female - recently acquired
from a private ostrich farm in Escondido. Since ostriches coincide
with giraffes in the wild, these birds were a natural choice for
inclusion in the exhibit.
The ostrich is the world's largest living bird. Males can grow
to 9 feet tall at maturity and can weigh up to 400 pounds. Like
its cousin the emu, the ostrich is a flightless bird, and is the
only bird with two toes on each foot. In the wild it can run at
speeds up to 40 miles per hour, and can sustain that speed for up
to 30 minutes. Even though the ostrich does not fly, its wings are
surprisingly strong. The ostrich uses them for aggressive displays
and courtship rituals.
Visitors will also find a pair of Egyptian geese in the exhibit. This
male and female are a little larger than a duck in size, reaching
2-2 1/2 feet high with a 4 1/2 – 5 foot wingspan. They have
a distinguishing chestnut brown mask around their yellow eyes however,
this coloration is absent in juveniles. The backs of Egyptian geese
are reddish orange to brown in color with the underside of their
wings white and iridescent green. The beak, legs and feet are pale
pink in color. Both sexes are very similar in appearance, with
the males being only slightly larger. Egyptian geese are
found in most wetlands, with the exception of those that are densely
wooded. Their range extends from the southern border of the Saharan
desert to the southern tip of Africa and also into the Nile river
basin.
All of this makes for an exciting and unique experience. Visit
The Living Desert soon to meet these magnificent animals.
  
|
