Can Giraffes Be Domesticated? (With Other Facts!)
Contents
Giraffes are one of the most interesting animals in the animal kingdom. They are the tallest land animals, with long necks, long legs and dark tongues.
One of the common questions about giraffes is if they can be domesticated. So, can giraffes be tamed and live with humans? Let me give you an answer.
Can giraffes be domesticated? No. Giraffes have never been domesticated. Domestication takes many generations of selective breeding, as with horses, cattle and camels, and nobody has ever done that with giraffes. Individual giraffes raised in zoos can get used to people, but they are still wild animals that can kill a person with a kick.
There are other facts you can learn about giraffes, and other reasons why they are not suited to life with people. I am going to tell you whether giraffes are friendly to humans and whether you could keep one as a pet. If you are ready, let’s go!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IRFjUR6ugI
Check out our other article here to know if hippos can be domesticated!
Why Giraffes Should Not Be Domesticated?
Giraffes are great animals, but they have nothing to offer as a domestic animal that we don't already get from horses, donkeys, cattle and camels.
Humans have domesticated animals that are useful to us, breed well in captivity, and can be managed in herds by people. Giraffes are huge, need a lot of space and a specialized browsing diet, and can be dangerous when frightened.
Giraffes are not as aggressive as lions or tigers. However, they are wild animals, and a startled giraffe can deliver a powerful kick.
Giraffes can run about 35 miles per hour for short distances, according to the San Diego Zoo. Even so, nobody uses them for transportation, because they can't be ridden or managed like a horse or donkey.
Keeping a giraffe also takes a huge, tall shelter, large outdoor space and expert care. Accredited zoos, with trained staff and veterinarians, are the places equipped to keep them.
Giraffes belong in their natural habitat, the savannas and open woodlands of Africa, not in a backyard.
Can Giraffes Be Tamed?
Individual giraffes raised in zoos can become used to people and may take food from keepers' hands. That is not the same as being tame or domesticated.
Giraffes are generally calm, but they are not always as gentle as they look. The San Diego Zoo notes that giraffes defend themselves with a deadly kick.
A kick strong enough to drive off predators is just as dangerous to a person.
Can Giraffes Be Ridden?
No. Giraffes cannot be ridden like horses. The anatomy of giraffes is not suited to riding. Their back slopes steeply down from the shoulders to the tail.
People can’t safely ride a wild giraffe, and even a giraffe used to people would not tolerate it. If you tried, you would face a couple of problems.
The first problem is their neck is so long. That means their head is far above you, so how could you put on a bridle? The second problem is the back of a giraffe slopes down toward its tail. How could a saddle stay in place?
Giraffes are not built for transportation or riding. We have horses, donkeys and camels, which are safer to ride, so there's no reason to try to ride a giraffe.
Please don't try to approach or climb onto a giraffe. A fall from that height or a kick could cause serious injury or death.
Is It Possible To Have A Pet Giraffe?
Not realistically. Giraffes are wild animals, and in most places keeping one is heavily regulated or restricted to licensed facilities. They also need far more space, food and specialist care than a private owner can provide.
Accredited zoos and wildlife parks have the facilities, trained staff and veterinary care that giraffes need. For normal people, keeping a giraffe is not a realistic option.
Giraffes need a large shelter with a high ceiling and plenty of space to roam. Their diet of leaves and browse is also nothing like your dog’s food.
Giraffes are not pets. You can’t keep a giraffe at home like a dog or a cat.
If you really want a pet or want a companion in your house, why don’t you get a dog or a cat? These animals are great pets, and they are much easier to care for than a giraffe.
How Much Does A Giraffe Cost?
Buying a giraffe is not like buying a dog or a cat. Giraffes move between accredited zoos through managed breeding programs, not through a pet market.
There is no reliable public price for a giraffe. The real costs are the specialized housing, food, veterinary care and permits, which put a giraffe out of reach for private owners.
How Do Giraffes React Toward Humans?
Giraffes born in zoos and used to keepers are usually calm around people. They are not aggressive by nature, but they can be dangerous if they feel threatened.
In zoos, visitors sometimes feed giraffes from a raised platform under keeper supervision. That is a controlled setting, not a sign that giraffes are safe to approach.
Wild giraffes that are not used to people are more likely to flee, and more dangerous if cornered. Even giraffes used to people can be dangerous if handled badly or frightened.
When giraffes are frightened, they defend themselves by kicking. A kick can cause serious injury or death.
Mother giraffes are especially protective of their calves. Never approach a mother giraffe with her calf.
Do Giraffes Like To Be Touched?
Most giraffes don't seek out human touch. Giraffes used to their keepers may tolerate it, especially around feeding time.
Wild giraffes usually keep their distance from people. If you approach one, it will most likely move away, and if you get too close or corner it, it may kick.
Are Giraffes Endangered?
Some giraffe populations are in serious trouble. The San Diego Zoo notes that giraffe numbers have dropped drastically in the past century, and some subspecies are classed as vulnerable or worse.
Final Thoughts
Giraffes have never been domesticated, and there's no good reason to try. They are wild animals that need space, specialist care and protection in their natural habitat. Let's leave giraffes on the African savanna and support the work to protect them.
Sources
- Giraffe, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
