Giraffe are known to feed from over 100 species of plant, but Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalis species are major staples. The following species occurring on Pride of Africa Nature Reserve are eaten by giraffe: Boschia albitrunca, Terminalia sericea, Acacia tortillas, Combretum zeyheri, Combretum hereroense, Combretum apiculatum, Burkea Africana, Dichrostachys cinerea and Acacia karroo. During the warm dry months of August to November when little leaf material is available giraffe will utilise evergreen trees such as Euclea crispa, Gymnosporia buxifolia and Diospyros lycioides. Flowers, fruit and pods are favoured as food. Giraffe select plant material with a 14 to 19 percent protein content year round. Most browsing takes place 1.8 to 4.8m above the ground, with the maximum browsing height been around 5.6m. Giraffe therefore seldom compete with other browsers for food.
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