Reticulated giraffes (galloping) : Whipsnade : 27 Jul 2014 (+video)

Bashu (male, 2 years) chasing Willow (female, 8 months). Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata.

This image is a 'still' from a short video (link below) which I've put together, showing four of the giraffes walking calmly from the round viewing hut towards the main accommodation, shortly after being fed by supervised zoo visitors. A few seconds later, Bashu and Willow start galloping and chasing each other around the enclosure.

• Video : Giraffes walking and galloping at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

I'm 99% certain that this is play behaviour, but if anyone knows different, please let me know. There's some fancy kicking going on too, from both parties, neither of which (thankfully) connected with their targets on this occasion!

I enjoyed the video. It looks like play to me too.

Alan

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed watching it and you get a good sense of how the enclosure looks now.

I have read in Okapi that the rearing up and fronts legs coming down hard and splayed is a playful sign. You can see the adult giraffe doing this in the video with down front legs at the same time. Normal giraffe gate while running seems to be just one front leg at a time.

So I would agree that it is playful behaviour on part of the adult.

I would say taking 'playful exercise' but not necessarily relating to each other- just each stimulating the other. Being the two youngest they are also the most likely to indulge in it. I wince a bit seeing them galloping in a confined space but hopefully they are safe.