Wow. I've never seen giraffes fighting before until now.

Me neither. I always thought they were really gentle animals.

why would giraffes ever fight? If I were a giraffe all I would do is hug other giraffes with my extremely long neck.

I've seen giraffes close up - their eyes look so calm and placid, and their movement is generally so slow and fluid, almost eerily so, that I was really surprised by this - I didn't think they'd fight at all. They do seem as if they'd be really gentle.

But I guess if giraffe #1 has found some especially tasty mimosa trees and giraffe #2 is normally a bit of an asshat when it comes to sharing then it's either that or kicking. If you get one leg off the ground ready for a kick and then your opponent comes in for a mighty head slam, that's you down and out of the game.

I wonder if it ever goes wrong and they end up with a broken neck? A giraffe with a broken neck would be a sad and pathetic sight.

Wow, thanks for that depressing thought.

OK, here's a baby giraffe, young and full of promise...