Living Desert

 

e animal shows, Discovery Room and many other features can be found in this unique zoo which sits in the middle of the Coachella Valley, just 15 miles east of Palm Springs.

Palm Desert/Indian Wells, CA - The Living Desert proudly announced the birth of a female giraffe calf on October 28, 2011; weighing in at a healthy 50.5 kilograms (111.1 lbs) and standing tall at 5 ft, 9 inches.

"We always get excited when animals are born here," Hile said, "but when the baby happens to be a giraffe, it can't help but bring a smile to your face. They are beautiful, magnificent creatures."

With this birth, the giraffe population at the Living Desert now consists of five; two males and three females.

Giraffes are one of the most majestic and beloved creatures on earth. They are one of nature's finest works of art - a combination of elegance, beauty and amazing architecture. It's no wonder ancient prophets and poets considered the giraffe the 'queen of beasts'.

Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their long necks and towering legs, which, at about 6 feet, are taller than many humans.

Fully grown, giraffes will grow to be 14 to 16 feet-tall and can run up to 35 miles per hour. These endearing herbivores roam the African savanna in small groups of six or more in constant search of food, like treetop acacia buds. Their tongues are typically black in color and about 21 inches long, allowing them to pluck hard-to-reach branches. Giraffes only need to drink water once every several days and get most of their water through the plants they eat. When they do drink, they can consume up to 10 gallons of water per day.

A fully grown giraffe will weigh between 1,750 to 2,800 lbs and must eat hundreds of pounds of leaves each week to survive. They have the longest tail of any land animal - up to 8 feet in length, counting the tuft at the end. Giraffe hearts are 2 feet long and weigh about 25 pounds, beating 170 times (and 16 gallons of blood) per minute - the highest blood pressure of any mammal on earth.

Having very strong hooves, and amazing strength, giraffe's can kill a lion with a single blow. Lions are the giraffe's only natural predator.

Female giraffes give birth standing up. Their young enter the world with a thump; falling to the ground more than 5 feet. However, they are able to stand within 30 minutes and run with their mothers only 10 hours after being born.

Giraffes are known for their beautiful chestnut blotched coats, and while no two individuals have the same pattern, giraffes from the same area do appear similar.