Uploaded August 2012 | Updated September 2026, 15 hours ago
Male giraffes use their necks as weapons in combat, a behavior known as "necking". Necking is used to establish dominance and males that are successful in necking have greater reproductive success. This behavior occurs at low or high intensity. In low intensity necking, the combatants rub and lean against each other. The male that can hold itself more erect wins the bout. In high intensity necking, the combatants will spread their front legs and swing their necks at each other, attempting to land blows with their ossicones. The contestants will try to dodge each other's blows and then get ready to counter. The power of a blow depends on the weight of the skull and the arc of the swing.A necking duel can last over half an hour, depending on how well matched the combatants are.
Male giraffes use their necks as weapons in combat, a behavior known as "necking". Necking is used to establish dominance and males that are successful in necking have greater reproductive success. This behavior occurs at low or high intensity. In low intensity necking, the combatants rub and lean against each other. The male that can hold itself more erect wins the bout. In high intensity necking, the combatants will spread their front legs and swing their necks at each other, attempting to land blows with their ossicones. The contestants will try to dodge each other's blows and then get ready to counter. The power of a blow depends on the weight of the skull and the arc of the swing.A necking duel can last over half an hour, depending on how well matched the combatants are.
