Chapter 1 HUMMING GIRAFFES Communicating with one another helps animals survive It also makes them fascinating to study For instance scientists were surprised to learn that giraffes hum Researchers recorded giraffes at night in three zoos These recordings revealed that the giraffes were humming This surprised the scientists and zookeepers who usually aren’t in the giraffe barn at night Giraffes are fairly quiet animals What types of sounds do they make 4 44
Coughing Hissing and Growling Giraffes make only a few sounds They are more vocal during mating season Males make a coughing sound to attract females The coughing lets females know the males are near Giraffes also make hissing and growling sounds A mother giraffe might hiss or make a low growl to keep her baby close to her Giraffes also hiss or growl to warn other giraffes of danger Giraffes also communicate by rubbing their necks and leaning against one another This is known as necking 5
