Giraffes are the tallest animals on Earth, and a fully grown Kordofan giraffe can be about 5.5 metres tall — nearly as tall as a double-decker bus. Their long necks let them reach leaves at the very top of acacia trees that no other ground animal can get to. They use their extra-long, dark purple tongues — about 45 centimetres long — to pull bundles of leaves straight off thorny branches without hurting themselves.
Despite being so tall, giraffes only need to sleep for about 30 minutes a day. They usually do this in short naps while standing up, with one eye still half-open to watch for any approaching animals. They can also sleep lying down for just a few minutes at a time, carefully tucking their long neck back along their body.
Baby Kordofan giraffes are already about 1.8 metres tall when they are born — taller than most grown-up humans. Within a few hours of being born, they can stand up and even run. Mother giraffes are very protective and will kick powerfully with their back legs to defend their calves if needed.