What eats a giraffe?

Lions, leopards, crocodiles, wild dogs and hyenas prey on giraffes. The old, sick and very young giraffes are the most common victims. Giraffes' defenses are their speed, their ability to spot predators far away and their ability to deliver deadly kicks.

Giraffes are the tallest living animals, standing up to 20 feet tall. Native to the savannas, grasslands and open woodlands of Africa, they browse on acacia leaves and twigs at heights other herbivores cannot reach. They also feed on shrubs, fruits and grasses. Giraffes live in loosely organized herds, and mother giraffes take turns watching over the calves of the group.