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To do so they must spread their legs and bend down in an awkward position that makes them vulnerable to predators like Africa's big cats. The giraffe's stature can be a disadvantage as well-it is difficult and dangerous for a giraffe to drink at a water hole. The giraffe's height also helps it to keep a sharp lookout for predators across the wide expanse of the African savanna. A giraffe eats hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and must travel miles to find enough food. Giraffes eat most of the time and, like cows, regurgitate food and chew it as cud. Even the giraffe's tongue is long! The 21-inch tongue helps them pluck tasty morsels from branches. Giraffes use their height to good advantage and browse on leaves and buds in treetops that few other animals can reach (acacias are a favorite). Such contests aren't usually dangerous and end when one animal submits and walks away. Typically, these fascinating animals roam the open grasslands in small groups of about half a dozen.īulls sometimes battle one another by butting their long necks and heads. These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles an hour over short distances and cruise comfortably at 10 miles an hour over longer distances. A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans-about 6 feet. Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks.