Have you ever wondered how giraffes sleep? (13 photos)

There are many questions that preoccupy both adults and children. One of them is how giraffes sleep. These even-toed ungulates are considered the tallest land animals on the planet. They reach heights of up to 6 meters, with more than a third of this height being spent on their necks.





Giraffes in the wild sleep very little, from 20 minutes to 2 hours per day. This is not surprising, as this large animal spends a tremendous amount of time feeding itself in the arid savannah. It is very rare to catch a giraffe sleeping in the wild, and until the 1950s, zoologists believed they didn't need sleep at all.



These animals can sleep both standing and lying down. Their impressive size and long neck don't hinder them from lying down and getting up. Giraffes may lie down not only to sleep, but also simply to rest. They keep their heads held high to spot danger.





But when a giraffe decides to sleep, it lies down on the ground, gracefully arching its neck. The giant's head rests on its thigh, which serves as a pillow.



If lying down isn't possible, the giraffe sleeps standing without any problem. The powerful muscles of its neck easily support the weight of its head, even while sleeping. However, sometimes they rest their heads on tree branches or on the backs of their fellow giraffes. The giraffes are completely comfortable with this exploitation and take it in stride.



Many people believe that the giraffe's neck is structured in some special and complex way. But this is not true. These African inhabitants, like all mammals, have only seven cervical vertebrae. Their vertebrae are simply very long and articulated in such a way that the neck can bend easily.









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Humans aren't giraffes and, fortunately or unfortunately, sleep much longer. However, there are those who, due to illness, are forced to sleep most of their lives, like an Indian named Purhorama.