Diurnal activity budgets for the giraffe, <i>Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa</i>, in the Kalahari region of southern Africa

Abstract

Abstract The diurnal activity budgets of giraffes were effectively studied from June 2012 until August 2013, in the Kalahari Region of southern Africa. Direct field observations identified how the daily activity budgets varied amongst the different subgroups of giraffes and the effects of seasonal changes and the time of the day. Feeding was the highest‐performed activity whilst non‐feeding activities were, however, also prominent. This study aimed to determine why giraffes are willing to sacrifice time on non‐feeding activities. A deeper look into the social and non‐feeding‐related behaviour of giraffes might prove that giraffes devote significant time to various other activities to improve their health and comfort. It unveils trade‐offs between digestion efficiency and foraging, impacting energy gain. Understanding this balance informs conservation strategies, habitat management and their well‐being. Investigating the motivations behind these behavioural choices unveils adaptive mechanisms, shedding light on the intricate interplay between physiological and ecological needs, ultimately contributing to a holistic comprehension of giraffe's ecological roles and promoting their coexistence with their environment. Such investigations also aid in highlighting why giraffes' social structures should be considered as complex and why further research is needed to better understand these relationships, amongst subspecies.