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Giraffes Are Known To Be Herbivores - But Why Is This One Chewing A Bone? Forest Officer Explains
TN Viral Desk
Updated Jun 13, 2023 | 01:02 PM IST
Earlier this week, a clip shared widely on Twitter left netizens baffled because it showed a deer chomping on a snake.
Viewers were naturally stunned as deer are generally considered herbivores. But that's not totally correct.
Deer are not strict herbivores. They eat birds, fish, dead rabbits and reptiles on rare occasions when food is scarce or lack minerals such as calcium or phosphorus.
This time, a new clip on Twitter showed a giraffe chewing on a piece of bone. And netizens had the same question - aren't giraffes herbivores?
Well, the explanation is pretty much the same.
Much like deer, even giraffes eat a variety of plant species. But they are specialised herbivores who turn to bones to get phosphorus and calcium for their bodies whenever there is a scarcity of food.
This behaviour is called osteophagy. It is the practice in which animals, usually herbivores, consume bones.
"The bones are not swallowed but simply dropped when the individual has gained enough nutrients or tires of the activity," explains Wildlifeact.com.
Sharing the clip of the giraffe chewing on a bone, Nanda offered the same explanation. He wrote: "Giraffes are herbivores & use their long necks to reach the leaves & buds in the tree top. They have evolved that way. But sometimes chew & eat bones to get phosphorus. Nature is amazing."
Video Credit: Twitter/Susanta Nanda
Viewers were naturally stunned as deer are generally considered herbivores. But that's not totally correct.
Deer are not strict herbivores. They eat birds, fish, dead rabbits and reptiles on rare occasions when food is scarce or lack minerals such as calcium or phosphorus.
This time, a new clip on Twitter showed a giraffe chewing on a piece of bone. And netizens had the same question - aren't giraffes herbivores?
Well, the explanation is pretty much the same.
Much like deer, even giraffes eat a variety of plant species. But they are specialised herbivores who turn to bones to get phosphorus and calcium for their bodies whenever there is a scarcity of food.
This behaviour is called osteophagy. It is the practice in which animals, usually herbivores, consume bones.
"The bones are not swallowed but simply dropped when the individual has gained enough nutrients or tires of the activity," explains Wildlifeact.com.
Sharing the clip of the giraffe chewing on a bone, Nanda offered the same explanation. He wrote: "Giraffes are herbivores & use their long necks to reach the leaves & buds in the tree top. They have evolved that way. But sometimes chew & eat bones to get phosphorus. Nature is amazing."
Video Credit: Twitter/Susanta Nanda
