Giraffes are very adorable animals despite their large size. Their long neck, irregular spots or patches, and graceful movements give them a beautiful appearance. You might also feel tempted to have one for you. But how much does a giraffe cost?
The cost of giraffes can vary depending on different factors. However, the average cost for giraffes in the United States can range from $5000 to $60,000. Surely, the animal is quite expensive to have in your personal animal collection.
Before you make your decision, there are a few other things you need to know about giraffes. This article will guide you about different factors, including legality.
Factors that Influence the Price of a Giraffe
You must have noticed that the average cost range mentioned earlier had a huge difference between the lower and higher limits. This is because there are a number of factors that influence the price of a giraffe.
1. Age and Size
The price of a giraffe is highly influenced by its age and size. With age, giraffes grow longer. Therefore, an adult giraffe will cost more than the younger ones that are less than two years old. However, if the giraffe is old, its price may decline to some extent.
The size is also an important factor. Though all giraffes are quite large, some become larger. Those giraffes, if you want to purchase them, will cost more money.
2. Breed
Giraffes have different breeds, and not all of them have the same demands. There are Masai, Reticulated, and Rothschild giraffes, among the most well-known ones. Each of them has unique looks and costs different amounts of money.
3. Location and Availability
The place where giraffes live is also a factor. You will not find this animal in all parts of the world. In some parts of the world, they are more available than in some other parts. If you live in South Africa and want to purchase a giraffe there, you will find it at a much lower price than in the United States.
4. Health Condition
You can understand this, don’t you? If the giraffe is in its best condition, then the price will go up. In case there is any health issue with the animal, you may get to save some money. Some giraffes can weigh even around 2000kg, while some can be around 1000 kg.
From Where Can You Buy Giraffes?
You do not have to go to South Afrca to buy giraffes. You do not need to import either. There are about 20 breeders of giraffes in the United States. They breed and look after giraffes to sell. Mostly, however, they sell their giraffes to zoos or some reputed institution.
If you are going to buy one for your institution or for a zoo, you should look for the ones that have a good reputation and are trustworthy. They will provide you with healthy and well-cared giraffes. Additionally, they will also help you with the paperwork.
Yes, in most states, you will need to have legal papers to keep a giraffe. Do you want to have one for your personal collection or as a pet? Well, this might not be possible. You can look into the black markets. However, that is not a wise idea. You can fall into legal complications later.
Is It Legal to Have Giraffes As Pets?
Giraffes are wild animals. They do not enjoy their lives in captivity. They are also not legal to keep as pets in most states in the United States. However, some states allow personal ownership over this largest mammal on the earth.
The following states of the USA allow you to have a giraffe as a pet:
- Florida
- South Dakota
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
Are you from any of these states? Then it will be much easier for you to buy a giraffe. However, if you are not, then you might need to go through some legal work. Try to hire an expert attorney who can help you regarding this.
You will need to prove that you really care about them and you really have the ability to look after them. Surely, you will not be allowed to keep them in a room or cage. You will need to provide them with enough space so that they can roam around.
How to Look After a Giraffe?
Though it is legal to buy giraffes in some states of the United States, the number of pet owners of giraffes is not many. This is due to the high expense of looking after a giraffe. Before looking at the cost, here is how you will need to take care of your giraffe, given that you bought one.
- Ensure a spacious enclosure with plenty of open space. Giraffes are not suitable to keep in a congested or small area. They are not like dogs or cats, you know. They need space to roam around freely.
- Try to mimic their natural habitat. You can add trees and vegetation in their space for that.
- Make sure there are enough fresh leafy greens for them. You may need to add supplements sometimes to their food.
- You should regularly check them for signs of any illness. Take professional help if you are not well-acquainted.
- Different breeds of giraffes prefer different temperatures and humidity. You should educate yourself about the preferences of your giraffes and set the environment accordingly.
Food Cost of A Giraffe?
You must be pleased to hear that giraffes are herbivores. It means that they do not eat meat. They live on plants. Their long necks help them reach the leaves of trees, seeds, and branches up in acacia and mimosa trees. However, you will need to spend thousands per month for food alone. Shocked?
Though giraffes do not eat meat, they eat a lot of trees. Some of them can even eat hundreds of pounds of leaves in a week. They can eat a variety of plants. However, Acacia will top the chart of their favorite foods. The good news is that they can also adapt to other foods if needed. They can eat a variety of grass and trees.
You do not need to worry about thorny vegetables. Their tongue and digestive tracts are designed to digest thorny vegetables. They will not face any problem with that. Giraffes, like many other herbivores, spend a good amount of time eating. You may see them chewing all the time. They spend 15 to 20 hours a day eating.
So, what do you think? How much will they cost you per month? Remember that an adult healthy giraffe can eat up to 65 kg of vegetables a day. You can do some calculations. But it is unlikely that you can manage food for them under $2000 per month.
And you should not also forget about their drinking habit. They can drink about seven liters of water per day. Adding that to food costs, you will need to spend nearly $2500 per month on a giraffe’s diet. Have to admit that it is a challenging amount for most people.
Veterinary Costs of Giraffe
Well, food is not the only cost for giraffes. You will also need to spend on veterinary care. Sadly, however, it is challenging and almost next to impossible to determine a fixed amount for a giraffe’s veterinary cost. Not many people own pet giraffes.
Additionally, there are not many expert vets available for giraffes. This large animal is not similar to cats or dogs. You will need a highly skilled vet to check on them. In most cases, unhealthy giraffes are taken to someone who works in a massive institution or in a big zoo.
Such an expert will undoubtedly cost you a fortune. So, if you want to have a giraffe, you should be mentally prepared to spend a good amount of money looking after them.
Do Giraffes Make Good Pets?
If you really love giraffes, then go on. However, you should know that giraffes are not ideal pets. They require a good financial expense to maintain their diet and habitat. Additionally, you will need to spend a good amount of money taming them.
You will also need to go through some legal processes. Keeping that apart, there are some other things to consider. Why do people have pets? To keep company, isn’t it? But that is not going to happen with giraffes.
Yes, you can spend some time feeding them. You cannot take them for a walk. There is another problem. Some studies show that other pets feel jealous of giraffes. Both cats and dogs are not very fond of giraffes when you show affection to giraffes. It is probably their tall size that scares them.
FAQs
Can I keep a giraffe in my backyard?
No, you should not keep a giraffe in a backyard. It is not feasible, nor is it ethical. Giraffes need large, specialized enclosures with proper care. This is not possible in a backyard. It can also be harmful and can be illegal in some places.
Can I legally buy a giraffe as a pet?
Buying giraffes for personal fondness is not very common. It is also illegal in most places. However, having giraffes as pets is legal in some places. Still, you may need to go through some legal processes.
How much does a baby giraffe cost?
It is not possible to state exactly how much a baby giraffe can cost. There is not much buying and selling going on, as you know. Besides, it is not legal in most places to buy and sell baby giraffes to individuals.
Can you buy a giraffe legally?
It is not legal to buy giraffes as a private individual. Giraffes are exotic and endangered species. However, you can still buy giraffes legally. However, you will need to prove that you can provide enough care and look after giraffes properly, and you also need assistance from an attorney.
How much does a giraffe weigh?
Adult giraffes can weigh between 700 and 1400 kilograms. Male giraffes are larger and heavier than females. Newborn giraffes can also weigh up to 70 kg at birth. They can also grow rapidly in a few years.
How much does it cost to feed a giraffe for a year?
You will need to spend a good amount of money to look after a giraffe. These large animals eat a lot. You will need to spend nearly, if not more than, $2000 per month only for food. Hence, you will need to spend from $25000 to $30000 or even more to feed them yearly.
Are giraffes aggressive or friendly?
Giraffes are mostly peaceful and non-aggressive animals. They are very calm and have a social nature. However, you should not make them feel threatened. You should also not get too close to wild giraffes.
Conclusion: How much does a giraffe cost!!
There is no doubt that giraffes are very expensive to buy and maintain as well. They also are not ideal animals to keep as pets. However, if you are extremely fond of these tall animals, you should go through some legal work. Take proper care of them, as they are already considered endangered.
