Giraffes are unique-looking animals due to their staggering height, and you may feel amazed to see them grazing leaves from the tallest trees when you go for a safari ride. And that simple scene may bring similar questions into your mind, like if they would eat food that other animals eat or have any special type of diet.
Do Giraffes Eat Bananas?
Giraffes are definitely fascinating animals, and it’s always exciting to know about the diet and food habits of these magnificent beasts.
Giraffes do eat bananas but not as much as other animals would, as they generally prefer leaves and twigs of acacia, mimosa, wild apricot trees, and the fruits found in shrubs. However, if you have a banana and don’t mind sparing it, you can offer it to one, but just be careful that you won’t be dragged into the air while doing it.
Can Giraffes Eat Bananas?
Of course, yes. Giraffes can eat bananas as they are ruminants like cows and have a similar digestive system. Generally, animals in the wild prefer to eat food that they generally eat and are available there, so giraffes’ primary diet is leafy food, but it does not mean that they would say no if we offer a fruit like a banana.
For the dietary requirements, giraffes need to eat a lot to maintain their energy and survive. So they will eat what they have in abundance where they live (usually grasslands and savannahs) and what they get easily, and bananas may not be one of them.
In captivity, they will be provided with a different diet, like hay. And in some zoos, the zookeepers allow guests to feed fruit such as bananas to giraffes.
Also Read: Do Giraffes Eat Birds?
Can Giraffes Eat Banana Peels?
Giraffes are ruminants and don’t have much problem eating banana peels. They can eat and digest them without any issues. Ruminants can easily digest fiber-rich foods such as grass, leaves, and hay. So, when a giraffe eats a banana peel, it would add to their food intake.
Giraffes need a lot of food, so they won’t mind even eating banana peels. So, when you feed animals a banana, you don’t need to peel them. They can happily eat it whole, along with the peel.
What Other Fruit Do Giraffes Eat?
Now that you know that you can feed bananas to giraffes, you may wonder what other fruits these giant creatures eat.
In general, giraffes can eat all types of fruits, but keep in mind that fruits are not the primary part of their diet. Fiber-rich food is better for them, like hay and acacia leaves.
They like acacia leaves very much and constantly move in search of food and don’t stay in a single area. They don’t drink water regularly as they have to bend their bodies for that, and they may feel uncomfortable and vulnerable in the wild.
So, you can feed fruits with an excellent water source, like watermelons.
Also Read: Can You Ride A Giraffe Like A Horse?
Can You Offer Bananas To Giraffes On Safaris?
Feeding the animals is one of the exciting parts of a safari trip. As giraffes are ruminants, they can eat and digest many varieties of fruits and vegetables without having any problems.
So, you can offer a banana if you have any, and they will eat it. But, of course, you should only do that after getting permission from your safari guide.
They would likely give you some instructions on how to offer the food to the animals. As giraffes are not tamed animals, we should be careful around them. It’s important not to harm or scare the animal, and it’s equally essential to keep yourself safe, too. Always act with diligence.
How Many Bananas Can A Giraffe Eat?
Many. Giraffes eat 60-80 pounds of food, on average, per day. As giraffes are enormous creatures, they require a lot of food every day. Having such a large appetite, they spend their day munching on every leaf and fruit they find. So, obviously, they can eat pounds of bananas till they don’t find any more.
However, when they eat bananas in large quantities, they may have serious digestive issues as their body is designed to eat more leafy greens to stay healthy and nourished.
Just like cows, giraffes also chew the cud leisurely throughout the day. Because of this, the bananas can get fermented and cause serious gestational problems for the giraffe. It is thus best to avoid overfeeding a giraffe with bananas just for your enjoyment.
Giraffes are beautiful and peaceful creatures (unless you provoke them), and they deserve the best care they can possibly get. With lots of fresh water and a healthy, balanced diet, the world’s tallest creatures will be happy and full of life.
In the wild, giraffes are known to live around 10 – 15 years, and if they are well maintained in captivity, they can live up to 20 – 25 years.
