How do Giraffes get water up that long neck?
Giraffes, the tallest animals on earth, seem to pump water up their long necks, a new study says.
Media credits
(Inside Science) — The giraffe’s neck has several benefits and drawbacks. When the animal bends down to take a drink, it must spread out its front limbs and lower its head to the water’s surface. How a giraffe, the tallest mammal on Earth, pushes water up its long neck to reach her stomach has been a mystery. Now, a new study suggests that using a basic device known as a plunger pump may help.
Last year, Philippe Binder was sitting on a tour bus in Namibia’s Etosha National Park when he noticed a giraffe drinking from a neighboring watering hole.
