Giraffes

Giraffes are a species of animal native to the Pride Lands. They feed on acacia leaves and grass, and are preyed upon by hyenas.
==Physical appearance==
Giraffes are large, four-legged animals with exceptionally long necks. They have orange fur, with cream chests, dark orange spots, and brown manes. They are known to have black, brown, green, or teal eyes.
==Sociocultural characteristics==
Giraffes feed on acacia leaves. In the Pride Lands, they live in Acacia Grove. They are preyed upon by hyenas.
==History==
===The Lion King===
Giraffes attend Simba's presentation. Later on, several giraffes appear during the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" musical sequence. After the sequence ends, a giraffe eats leaves from a nearby tree. Giraffes are seen again during the "Hakuna Matata" musical sequence when they flee from Pumbaa's flatulence. Finally, the giraffes attend the presentation of Simba and Nala's newborn cub.
===The Lion King II: Simba's Pride===
Giraffes attend Kiara's presentation. Later, they are seen during the "We Are One" musical sequence. They also appear during the "Upendi" sequence. When Kovu is exiled from the Pride Lands, the giraffes participate in driving him away. During the Pride Lander-Outsider battle, giraffes flee from the battlefield with the okapis. Finally, they attend the marriage of Kiara and Kovu.
===The Lion King 1½===
Giraffes attend Simba's presentation and faint from Pumbaa's flatulence. Later on, several giraffes appear during the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" musical sequence.
===The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar===
During the "A Beautiful Day (Ni Siku Nzuri)" musical sequence, Kion and Bunga run alongside a giraffe herd and toss their baobab ball to Shingo. Later, a giraffe appears during the "Tonight We Strike" musical sequence.
===The Lion Guard===
===="The Rise of Makuu"====
Giraffes attend the mashindano between Makuu and Pua. After Makuu's victory, he and his float invade Big Springs, pushing the giraffes out of their territory. Later on, Kion fixes the situation.
===="The Kupatana Celebration"====
Giraffes appear during the "Jackal Style" musical sequence. Later, they attend Kupatana, where Twiga performs musically. During the celebration, the jackals attack the Pride Landers, including the giraffes, but they are thwarted by the Lion Guard. With the danger abated, the Pride Landers eat baobab blossoms.
===="The Trouble with Galagos"====
Ono informs the Lion Guard that Shingo is stuck in a tree in Ukuni Woods. The Lion Guard sets out to free Shingo, whose neck is stuck in the branches of an acacia tree. Bunga climbs up the trunk and carefully pries Shingo's neck and tongue free, allowing him to escape the branches of the acacia. Once free, Shingo proceeds to graze on another acacia tree.
===="Never Roar Again"====
Zazu informs the Lion Guard that a rock slide has separated the giraffes from their watering hole. The team rushes to the site of the accident, where several giraffes begin to laugh at Ono for losing his crest feathers. After some conference with his team, Beshte pushes the rocks out of the way, allowing Twiga's herd to access their watering hole once again.
===="The Savannah Summit"====
Mtoto the young elephant informs the Lion Guard that Twiga and several other animals, including Makuu the crocodile, are on their way to Pride Rock. Kion deduces that Makuu must be trying to spoil the Savannah Summit, and he and the Lion Guard take off to thwart the danger and warn Simba.
Once at Pride Rock, Kion tackles Makuu, but Makuu protests that he had been invited. With Simba's support, Makuu promises to take his duties seriously, much to the discomfort of Twiga and the other Pride Lander leaders.
Together, the party proceeds to Mizimu Grove. Along the way, Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga the cape buffalo speak resentfully about Makuu's past actions and how readily Simba is willing to forgive him. However, Zazu interrupts their talking, and the group continues, with Simba and Zazu singing "Everyone Is Welcome", in which they stress the importance of equality and unity.
Later, while patrolling the Pride Lands for trouble, Mtoto overhears Twiga speaking about Makuu, and he informs the Lion Guard of what he has heard. The team takes off to protect Twiga, but when they arrive on the scene, Makuu is nowhere to be found, only Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga. Bunga proclaims that Mtoto had heard Makuu, but Mtoto clarifies that he had only heard Twiga speaking about Makuu. Twiga is quick to deny this assertion, and Vuruga Vuruga backs her up, with both acting suspiciously. The Lion Guard leaves, privately deducing that Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga are too afraid to tell the truth about Makuu because he had threatened them.
Later, after Kion realizes that Makuu may be being targeted, the Lion Guard rushes to Mizimu Grove, where they save Makuu from falling into a pit full of rotten fruit. Makuu realizes that someone had set a trap for him, and Kion proclaims that he knows how to find out who is to blame.
That evening, Kion announces to the Summit that Makuu had fallen into a pit and lost his life in the struggle. A horrified Twiga and Vuruga Vuruga exclaim that they had never intended for Makuu to get hurt, only to fall into a pit of rotten fruit. Just then, Makuu reveals himself and announces to the gathered animals that he had come to the Summit with the intention of helping his float and the Pride Lands, but had only received distrust and hostility. Twiga, Vuruga Vuruga and the other animals fear Makuu's wrath, but Makuu merely prompts Simba to let the Summit go on.
===="The Golden Zebra"====
Twiga and her herd get in an argument with Vuruga Vuruga's herd over Big Springs due to a severe drought. Kion defuses the situation. Later, Twiga and her herd travels to Dhahabu Grove, where they can access drinking water.
===="Divide and Conquer"====
When Janja and his clan begin to hunt Twiga and her daughter, Juhudi, the Lion Guard rushes to their defense. In the midst of the chase, the team splits up, with Kion and Beshte remaining to handle the situation. As Beshte and Kion race after the hyenas, Janja orders his lackeys to stop them. With four hyenas on the attack, Beshte and Kion quickly become overrun.
Up ahead, Twiga lashes out at Janja, kicking him away from her. Janja then calls a surrender, and the hyenas bank a hasty retreat. Beshte and Kion check on the status of the giraffes and then follow after the hyenas to make sure that they have left the Pride Lands.
Later, Twiga and Juhudi enjoy a show put on by Tamaa the drongo.
===="The Kilio Valley Fire"====
After Ma Tembo's herd is ousted from Kilio Valley from a fire, Kion requests that the herd temporarily stay with Twiga and her giraffes. At first, Twiga is receptive to the elephants staying in her home, but once they start eating entire branches off of the trees, she appeals to Kion to take them elsewhere.
===="The Fall of Mizimu Grove"====
At Mizimu Grove, Rafiki and Simba announce Makini's mpando mpaya. In the midst of the celebration, the Army of Scar attacks, and the Pride Landers rise up to defend themselves. The battle pauses when Scar appears in the flames and threatens to overtake the entirety of the Pride Lands. Frightened by Scar's unexpected appearance, the remaining Pride Landers, including Twiga and her herd, flee Mizimu Grove.
Simba approaches the Pride Landers once the Lion Guard has calmed them and admits that he has had knowledge of Scar's return for some time. The herds deliberate whether they should leave the Pride Lands, and Simba tells them to inform him of their decision the following morning at Pride Rock.
At Pride Rock, Kion implores Twiga and her herd to follow him to Mizimu Grove before they decide to leave the kingdom. The herds follow Kion to Pride Rock, where Makini's baobab tree seed has survived the fire. This inspires the Pride Landers to remain in the kingdom and work together to defeat Scar.
==Notable giraffes==
* Juhudi
* Shingo
* Twiga
==Appearances==
Category:Canon articles
Category:Species