Collective nouns are fantastic phrases because they are really helpful. Applying any of these terms is a straightforward approach to describing a wildlife encounter—people would understand right away that you are not speaking about a single animal but a collection of animals. But what is a group of Giraffes called?
Giraffes are herd animals who travel in groups. Though ‘herd’ is the most common collective noun used for this animal species, there are a few additional names for these groups based on their characteristics.
In this article, we will go through the various terms a group of giraffes is called.
What do you call a herd of giraffes?
Collective nouns for animals are incredibly detailed, revealing information about the creatures under consideration. They characterize their form, character, or shape, offering insights into their behaviors, natures, and personalities.
If you ask different people, what the collective of a giraffe is, you may get a different answer each time.
A group of giraffes has various collective nouns. These words refer to the giraffe’s physical appearance and social behavior. They also provide essential information about these fascinating creatures.
The following are some collective nouns for a group of giraffes:
1. A tower of giraffes
There aren’t any prizes for figuring out why the phrase “tower of giraffes” is frequently employed as a collective noun. It’s an appropriate signature for the world’s tallest animal.
These slender animals tower over their fellow creatures, and a herd of giraffes towering into view is a sight to behold.
They stand at 14 to 19 feet high (4-6 meters), and their necks alone can reach 6 feet (almost 2 meters).
2. A journey of giraffes
Another word that is occasionally used is “giraffe voyage.” It appropriately defines giraffes, as do the other group nouns for them, at least when moving.
Giraffes have extensive home ranges within which they will roam around looking for food. Home ranges can span up to 50 square miles. Giraffes are not territorial creatures, so there is a lot of overlap between groups.
And if food is short, larger herds may split apart, and those giraffes travel in smaller units to hunt greener pastures.
So, if you see a herd strolling across the grassland, you might refer to the group as a “giraffe excursion” instead. There is no such thing as a definite rule when it comes to these creatures.
You could even get creative with the following collective noun.
3. A kaleidoscope of giraffes
This is a somewhat obscure but funny name that honors the giraffe’s magnificent coat patterns.
It could also refer to the optical illusion formed when two giraffes interweave their necks. This results in a symmetrical “reflection.”
4. A herd of giraffes
“Herd” is a well-known collective term for various species. This could also be used to describe a giraffe herd.
The term “herd” frequently refers to a social gathering of hooved mammals. Giraffes are even-toed ungulates, like sheep, cattle, and many other wild species. As a result, saying “a herd of giraffes” makes a lot of sense and is easy to remember.
It’s a more generic phrase, yet it’s one of the most commonly used collective nouns for giraffes.
Giraffes are frequently found in groups
Giraffes are very gregarious animals that frequently congregate in big groups. These groups typically consist of 10-20 giraffes, while groups of nearly 50 giraffes have been observed.
Giraffes are herd animals; however, they do not live in well-defined herds that last their entire lives.
Members of the herd may come and depart; thus, they constantly change. This is known as a fission-fusion society.
The majority of their time is spent grazing, and their need to stay as a herd is based on safeguarding themselves from predators, not bonding, as many people believe.
Why do giraffes travel in groups?
Despite being herbivorous, giraffes have only a few natural predators due to their large stature. Humans, lions, and crocodiles are the most common.
Like many other herbivores, Giraffes travel and stay in groups to dissuade predators from attacking them.
If a lion or crocodile attempts to attack, they fight back by kicking them with their powerful feet. They are also extremely fast, as their long legs allow them to run at 37 mph (60 kph) for short periods, allowing them to outrun animal predators.
Is a giraffe herd composed of both males and females?
Male and female giraffes are frequently separated. The majority of groups are made up of female giraffes and their calves.
Male calves are known to remain with their moms until they reach 15 months old, at which point they depart to meet herds of other male giraffes. Females, however, will often stay in the same tower.
Males sometimes leave the group, but they frequently rejoin herds in the same location where they were born. Giraffes can mate and give birth to their calves after they reach the age of four.
More mature males are known to live relatively solitary lives, though they are occasionally sighted in pairs.
Because giraffes don’t form long-term couples, male and female giraffes are rarely seen living together. They only come together for mating, after which they return to their respective herds.
Final thoughts on groups of giraffes
As you can see, a group of giraffes has multiple collective nouns. Many are just descriptive, and there are no correct or incorrect answers.
If you want to be scientific, you can’t go wrong with a “herd of giraffes.” The term is commonly used to denote groupings of hooved mammals.
However, if you want something more evocative, go for terms like “tower” or “kaleidoscope.”
A “journey” is another excellent term for giraffes on the move. These gorgeous, peaceful creatures are a symbol of Africa. Whatever you call them, they’re a sight to behold.