As
the tallest animals in the world, with gangly legs, twisting black tongues and
patchwork markings, giraffes are instantly recognisable.
But
we still know relatively little about the behaviour of these supposedly
"gentle giants".
Footage
recorded for a new landmark natural history series, Africa, coproduced by the
BBC and Discovery, reveals a little seen brutal aspect to giraffes' lives.
Male
giraffes were filmed engaging in a bruising fight, literally going head to head
until a single giraffe is left standing.
New
research just published also shows that female giraffes form previously
unrecognised close bonds with a select group of female companions.
Not
only do they make "friends" in this way, they avoid other females
they get on with less well.
Scientific
studies of giraffes often focus on their iconic aspects: how fast they can
travel or how high they can reach using their long legs, the strength of their
necks and the colour of their coats.
Read
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20694264
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