Young giraffe approaches its mother. I noticed two areas on the Mom's neck that appear to have been shaved in order to treat a couple of small wounds. Giraffes are African ruminant mammals which live in the open savanna South of the Sahara. The tallest of animals, giraffes browse in treetops at heights inaccessible to other leaf-eaters. They feed chiefly on leaves of acacia and mimosa, using their extensible tongues and mobile lips to secure food. Giraffes travel in small herds led by a male. They can outrun most of their enemies and have been known to kill lions with a kick. They are most vulnerable when spreading their forelegs and lowering their heads to drink. They are among the very few mammals that cannot swim at all. The only other member of the giraffe family is the okapi. Dallas Zoo