SANParks.org Forums

Amazing as usual Nico

Wow amazing Nico

Saw this on the 22nd of last month from the H10 about 6km up from the Sabie bridge.I think it is the same giraffe as on page 5.The markings are the same (look the same) but are now smaller making the giraffe appear whiter.

Unique sighting this, well captured

been quiet here...


from my recent trip to the KNP:

I thought I would share this photo of what appeared to be Giraffe twins. This is one of a couple of photo's I took which showed these two youngsters acting in unison.

This photo was taken in the Satara area during the first week of this month. Please excuse the out of focus of the closer 'twin'.

Nice picture.

This pic is in today's newspapers. Photo was apparently taken at Numbi-gate

Photographed on the H1-4. A handsome dark bull. This photo required no cropping and filled the frame of my camera.

Fantastic pics everyone

Henks Giraffe looks like it lost its false teeth

ADW....Great pic of the twins

On one of the H4-1 loops

I have experienced on a few visits giraffe that intertwine their necks with each other.
Last visit we witnessed on a few occasions giraffes clobbering one another with their necks, but besides aiming for the neck, were going down and hitting their heads on the others legs. There has also been instances that they look like they are "dancing". It has been mentioned that this could be courting.
Are the clobbering acts of aggression and fighting for a female, dominance, or what.
Can someone explain this behaviour. Its quite fascinating.

That is very interesting and thay do batle for mates but i don't know if thay battle for anything else...

This is what I found for you in a book called “Beat about the bush”


The most subtle form of this behaviour, which only involves gentle rubbing or intertwining of the necks, is called ‘necking’, and it usually occurs between a courting pair. It is simply the male’s way of trying to signal his intent to the female. Necking can also occur between immature males that could be practising manoeuvres for later life. The more aggressive form is appropriately called ‘sparring’, and occurs between adult males who use the behaviour to establish dominance.

Giraffes don’t defend territories, but males will develop a local hierarchy by fighting one another, the reward for the highest-ranked male being access to oestrous females. Sparring involves the adversaries standing next to each other (facing the same opposite directions) and attempting to land blows with their short stubby horns by swinging their necks and using their heads as hammers. The skulls of male giraffe become heavier and more knobbly with age, making for more effective weapon during sparring. Blows are aimed anywhere on the body, and the duel can continue for hours until one individual becomes submissive and backs away.

Saw another dark male on the Lower Sabie Skukuza road