Can a Giraffe Jump?

Mr.Applepie · 13-02-2002 12:08pm #1

Ok a friend and i were having a conversation about mammals that couldn't jump and we came up with a few. I then suggested that a giraffe couldnt jump as i thought they aren't physically suited to jumping which he disagreed with. Now does anyone know for certain if a giraffe can jump???

azezil · 13-02-2002 12:11pm

Well they run, and thus their legs probably all leave the ground at the same time, so I say yes!

Mr.Applepie · 13-02-2002 12:30pm

Yes but running and jumping are 2 different things and if a giraffe were to fall over it finds it very hard to get back up and can die so would there not be a great risk in jumping???

Keeks · 13-02-2002 12:37pm

If it was entering for the high jump maybe.

I would be in the thinking that it would be able to jump, but probably not that high. It would look more like a hop/skip than a jump because of its size.

WhiteWashMan · 13-02-2002 1:28pm

Originally posted by Mr.Applepie
and if a giraffe were to fall over it finds it very hard to get back up

shall we call you david bellamy shall we?
giraffe can get up fine.
and yes they can jump, they just dont do it becuase they dont need to much. but i have seen them len on their back legs streching for food and then jump on their back legs.

Dr. Loon · 13-02-2002 1:39pm

Originally posted by WhiteWashMan

shall we call you david bellamy shall we?
giraffe can get up fine.
and yes they can jump, they just dont do it becuase they dont need to much. but i have seen them len on their back legs streching for food and then jump on their back legs.

Where was this? On Grafton Street? Or on TV?

I'd actually heard that when they fell they had alot of trouble getting up too... but there ye go

Irish_Ranger_IR · 13-02-2002 2:29pm

White men can't jump.

if a giraffe were to fall over, it would be able to get back up, it would be funny sceen to look at, wonders of the animal kindom, if you take an elephant, they sit down, roll on there backs, they weigh more than a giraffe, If a giraffe were to fall over and could not get back up then it would be killed by pray, so it can.

The question is How would it fall over ?

Now, there you go.....

Dr. Loon · 13-02-2002 2:30pm

Originally posted by Irish_Ranger_IR

The question is How would it fall over ?

Now, there you go.....

It could trip on a branch, or it might be shot in the leg

13-02-2002 2:58pm

alright folks, for proof that some of ye have indeed gone mad...look over this thread!

madness!

by the way giraffes have the greatest farting power...internal combustion on their part is one of the greatest in animals...so yes, they can jump (borders on ****in flying!)

kiffer · 13-02-2002 3:08pm

Originally posted by Irish_Ranger_IR
, If a giraffe were to fall over and could not get back up then it would be killed by pray, so it can.

killed by pray you say?

oh no! the sheep are attacking...

Saruman · 13-02-2002 3:21pm

killed by pray you say?

Yup.. damn payers.. they are killers... imagine praying on a defensless animal! What sort of God do the bible bashers worship??

On a more ON TOPIC note.. i cant imagine a Giraffe jumping,, they just seem too lanky.. they probably can in some sense.. but i doubt it happens often!

As for not being able to get up if they fell... possible but i think its more if they fell they could injure themslves easier than most animals and so could not get up.. obviously they lie down or kneel down so can get up from that... oh i thought of a new thread! im off...

EvilGeorge · 13-02-2002 3:25pm

Now I have an image of a giraffe jumping up and down headbanging to rock music.

leeroybrown · 13-02-2002 3:26pm

Could a giraffe be bothered jumping even if it could?

kiffer · 13-02-2002 3:33pm

I think that its likly that a baby giraffe could jump abit at least ... like before their necks get too long ... does that count. ?
I dont think they have any problems standing up but if they fall they're just much more likly to hurt their neck ....

is that on topic enough?

EL_Diablo · 13-02-2002 3:40pm

giraffes can jump. They probably just don't want to. Elephants are the only mammals that can't

kiffer · 13-02-2002 3:48pm

Originally posted by EL_Diablo
giraffes can jump. They probably just don't want to. Elephants are the only mammals that can't

and that is because of their knees, not their hugh bulk.

Dr. Loon · 13-02-2002 3:50pm

Originally posted by EL_Diablo
giraffes can jump. They probably just don't want to. Elephants are the only mammals that can't

I fI was a giraffe, I wouldn't be arséd jumping, although I know I could.
Now elephants, I reckon they can jump, but they're just biding their time, and then they'll all jump at once. Who knows what would happen then? Eh?

Mr.Applepie · 13-02-2002 8:14pm

Did I ask about whether or not a giraffe could fall??????????????

Victor · 13-02-2002 10:55pm

Only if you give them a parachute!

But honestly. I think they can jump, but more in the sense of the long jump than the high jump (the don't really need to.)

Irish_Ranger_IR · 14-02-2002 11:15am

Originally posted by Dr. Loon

It could trip on a branch, or it might be shot in the leg

Need to be a big branch then, or a tree, if it was shot in the leg, don't think it could get up after that anyway,, then it would be killed by Lions, or other types of warm blooded killers......

proberly Like you! LoL

Saruman · 14-02-2002 11:18am

In rememberence to the Giraffe and my own T-Rex poll in science.. here is another question (cant be arsed with a new thread on this one!)

Can a T-Rex jump?

Lump · 14-02-2002 1:44pm

OK, my flat mate and I had an argument about this.... Can a chicken fly? I say yes, he says no..... what is the answer.

John

Dr. Loon · 14-02-2002 2:10pm

Yes and no.

The chicken has two legs and two wings, a fact that influences housing and management. Domestic chickens have essentially lost the ability to fly. Heavy breeds used for meat production cannot do more than flap their wings and jump to a little higher level or move more rapidly along the ground. The lighter-bodied birds can fly short distances, and some can fly over relatively high fences. The feet and shank portions of the legs have scales.

Taken from http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/eggs/res08-whatis.html

Mr.Applepie · 14-02-2002 2:11pm

So no one knows for definite if a giraffe can jump or not. That is disappointing. My point is that they arent really anotomically designed for jumping. I mean they have skinny little legs. Would they buckle when landing from a jump??? the question should have really stated can a giraffe land a jump?

Saruman · 14-02-2002 2:16pm

Look people at the end of the day a Giraffe will easily step over an obstacle.. no need to jump over it! Evolution strikes again!

EvilGeorge · 14-02-2002 2:17pm

Ok, lets sort this once and for all , everyone meet me, front entrance to Dublin zoo - Midnight , bring a bunsen burner or mad hot thing - we'll soon know the answer

Irish_Ranger_IR · 14-02-2002 5:03pm

LOL, I bring a video camera for evidence.......

Then we can all make a dew quid by sending it to Kirsty's home videos.....

Mr.Applepie · 14-02-2002 5:07pm

Hmmm your plan sounds interesting evilgeorge! It ofcourse perfectely legal and above board???

Monkey · 14-02-2002 9:47pm

"Elephants are the only mammals that can't" - surely a hedgehog can't jump

kiffer · 14-02-2002 11:00pm

Originally posted by Monkey
"Elephants are the only mammals that can't" - surely a hedgehog can't jump

they often climb up fences and jump off ...
does jumping off things count?
parashoots on hefalumps....
weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

true about the hedgehogs though....

WhiteWashMan · 15-02-2002 7:53am

Originally posted by Monkey
"Elephants are the only mammals that can't" - surely a hedgehog can't jump

hahahahaha
FANTASTIC!

Irish_Ranger_IR · 15-02-2002 9:17am

Originally posted by Monkey
"Elephants are the only mammals that can't" - surely a hedgehog can't jump

What is a Mammal.

Mammals feed there off spring with milk, do female hedgehogs feed the young with milk?

Not sure myself, are Hedgehogs Mammals?

Saruman · 15-02-2002 9:32am

A hedgeHog is a mammal. They rear their young in burrows like rabbits and rodents etc.. as far as i know thats how they do it anyway but they are mammals and they do suckle!

Irish_Ranger_IR · 15-02-2002 11:48am

Originally posted by Saruman
A hedgeHog is a mammal. They rear their young in burrows like rabbits and rodents etc.. as far as i know thats how they do it anyway but they are mammals and they do suckle!

Ahhhh, aint them flee ridden hedgehogs qute !!!!

EvilGeorge · 15-02-2002 11:50am

Where were you guys last night - I forgot my flash light but I think it was the Giraffe section or at least somthing was chasing me hoping mad !

Victor · 16-02-2002 6:10pm

I saw a documentary on the TV the other night about elephants. The reason that elephants can't jump is essentially because they can't run (i.e. their gait stays the same, no matter what speed they travel at). Their leg joints are very different to other plains animals. However, they can walk at 30 kph.

Kali · 16-02-2002 6:26pm

aye apparently elephants are the only animals with 4 forward-bending knees.
theres some useless trivia for ya

Monty - the one and only · 17-02-2002 4:02am

this topic is degrading into useless spam, if it goes any further, the topic will go aswell.

Hannah · 17-02-2002 4:19pm

lol in the midst of the pray/prey debate i'd like to point out that it's all acdemic anyway since the giraffe would be killed by a predator not a prey

kiffer · 19-02-2002 12:02am

Originally posted by Hannah
lol in the midst of the pray/prey debate i'd like to point out that it's all acdemic anyway since the giraffe would be killed by a predator not a prey

I thought Lions killed baby Giraffes?
< edit > um really should read the things i reply to....
I thought thats what the pray/prey thing was all about ... I'm not the sort of person who points out speeling mistakes ... cause my spelling is really bad... but i will point out things like predator/prey or some other mistake.
< / edit >

And I had allready said that Elephants had knee problems ... or did I just dream that...
Right I quit.

horn dog 1 · 19-02-2002 1:00pm

Giraffes have only two gaits: ambling and galloping. When they walk, the left legs move together, then the right. When they gallop, the forefeet and hindfeet move together in pairs, like a jackrabbit, the hind legs landing outside and ahead of the forefeet at over 30 miles per hour. By avoiding cross motion, giraffes manage not to trip themselves.

Can a Giraffe Jump?

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