Do giraffes have vocal cords?

Giraffes have vocal cords and exhibit a variety of sounds, including moaning, snoring, hissing and flutelike sounds, according to the San Diego Zoo. A calf bleats or mews to communicate with its mother, while the mother makes a roaring bellow to locate her young.

During courtship, male giraffes utter a jarring cough. When alarmed or threatened by a predator, giraffes may bellow, snort or emit grunts like a pig, but they also moo when they are distressed.

They are less vocal than their petite cousins, the okapi, that live in the Congo rain forests. At an average height of 18 feet, eye contact with one another and body language are sufficient for giraffes to communicate danger or concern.