Christmas is just around the corner! Shops and stores are already putting out there holiday season decorations. It seems as though thanksgiving is forgot a lot though, but that is a story for a different article. Going back to the holiday season, if I had to identify one thing that is and always will be on my wish list it would be giraffes. They are kind of my thing. I've always loved them, they are my favorite land animal. (My favorite sea animal is a manatee if you wondered.)
In my human communication class last year I wrote a 7 minute speech on why giraffes should be everyones favorite animal. (I got an 'A' on that speech.) A little bit of background on giraffes for you. Giraffes can grow to be between 14 and 19 feet tall. This is probably why I can't have one for myself, I have to go to a zoo to see them. Giraffes usually live up to 25 years in the wild. They are also herbivores which makes them better than most large animals because they won’t eat you!
Giraffes are so unique and majestic. Every giraffe is different with different spots. No one giraffe has the same pattern. Their spots are like a human's fingerprint. This even rings true with plush giraffes, toys, keychains, etc. every one of them is unique. I find that super fascinating. A giraffe and it's offspring can look completely different from one another and yet the same.
Giraffes also only sleep about 30 minutes a day. This is because they are very susceptible to being pray to other animals. They don't lie down or sit because it is very hard for them to get up quickly in the even of a predator attack. They also give birth standing up. Just an hour after a giraffe is born they are able to stand and walk around on their own. I also learned from a giraffe autopsy that I watched, that it is actually very hard and painful for giraffes to bend their neck down. The upright position is the natural position for the giraffe.
With all this knowledge comes so much love for these beautiful creatures. If it isn't already known from my cover photo, I collect giraffes. I started collecting giraffes my freshmen year of college, so about a year ago. Right now I own roughly 23 giraffes in various forms; plush, phone cases, paintings, pillow cases, phone stands. keychains. scarfs, shawls, wall decals, pens; almost anything you can think of. I have gotten most of my collection as gifts from friends and family as birthday, Christmas, and valentines day presents. I sometimes impulse buy them for myself as well, thats how I started my collection. Below are some up-close photos of my collection!
I think if I grow up to be anything, it will be the crazy giraffe lady. My friends already tell me I have a problem. Hey, Giraffes are my thing. If I could own one, I would. I have already looked into it. I would have to move to a state that allows for people to own exotic animals. I would also need around $40,000-$80,000 just to purchase the giraffe, more if I want a baby one, and around a 12,000-acre preserve. That is not counting the cost for food, which you would need a lot up because giraffes eat up to 75 lbs of foliage daily. It would also be very hard to find a vet to take care of your giraffe if it were to ever get sick or hurt. So I will just stick with collecting giraffe trinkets and grow my collection to my hearts desire. Giraffes are such beautiful creatures and they are my all time favorite thing in the world.
