Giraffes at a Netherlands zoo go neck-and-neck to get hold of a tasty snack.
A video of the animals shows them carefully peeling away the bark of willow tree branches at their enclosure in Burgers’ Zoo in Arnhem.
In the footage – obtained by Newsflash -the giraffes can be seen delicately nibbling away the bark in a holder designed to encourage them to stretch out their necks.
Burgers’ Zoo currently keeps eight female and one male giraffe.
None of them have been given names, as the zoo said it does not wish to “humanise these magnificent animals”, but rather appreciate them as giraffes.
The zoo said in an interview with Newsflash: “Their regular diet mostly consists of alfalfa hay, which contains a lot of protein. But also ‘normal’ hay.
“And some types of fresh branches and fresh leaves, like willow.”
And apparently, giraffes don’t enjoy just any bark.
The zoo said: “Our giraffes are on a strict diet, which keeps them healthy. So no sugar-rich sweets and things alike, which would be bad for them.
“Willow is definitely a favourite. They really prefer the bark of the willow. Birch and hazel are also eaten, but only the leaves (not the bark).”
Staff said they could soon be welcoming some newborn giraffes, as the male and females are not related to each other and are expected to breed.
However, because giraffe pregnancies typically last about 14 months, the zoo said one must also be very patient.
Baby giraffes are not born small – and in fact – newborns are typically somewhere around six feet tall and can weigh up to 150 pounds.
The zoo added: “Adult male giraffes weigh up to 1,600 kilos [3,500 pounds] and adult females weigh around 1,000 kilos [2,200 pounds]. A male can reach 5.5 to 6 metres [18 to 20 feet] in height.”
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Story By: Simona Kitanovska, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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