Juvenile giraffe

A young giraffe

Scientific name: Giraffa camelopardalis

Whistling thorn acacia trees protect themselves with hundreds of sharp spines. The base of these spines also providesa home for ants. Much like magical Bowtruckles protect their homes, these ants fiercely defend the tree from anything trying to eat its leaves. Scientists have shown that the ants’ bites and venomcan even fend off giraffes and elephants.

Scientists have found that giraffe calves are particularly sensitive to ant attacks,while older giraffes areless affected.

Many large African herbivores (plant eaters) such as elephants and giraffes are under serious threat and their numbers are declining fast. Scientists have found that when there are no herbivores grazing on the whistling thorn acacia, the tree stops producing spiny homes for its ant bodyguards. As this relationship breaks down, the ants are often replaced by another species that can instead damage the tree, causing slower growth and higher death rates.

When conserving our wildlife itis important to focus not just on a single species but on their habitat and their interaction with other plants and animals.