Computer Simulation Shows that Giraffes Can Swim

No one has ever seen a giraffe swim. But a computer simulation run by two researchers suggests that they probably can:

Creating a digital giraffe involved numerous calculations on weight, mass, size, shape, lung capacity and centre of gravity.

Calculations were made to discover rotation dynamics, flotation dynamics and the external surface area of both a giraffe and - for control purposes - a horse.

The authors found that a full-sized adult giraffe would become buoyant in 2.8metres of water. Giraffes can wade across bodies of water that are shallower.


Link via Geekosystem | Photo: NASA

"no one has ever seen a giraffe swim..."

That's a pretty bold statement. Remember, just because it doesn't exist on the Internet, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
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@Chad -- that was my first thought, too. But I'm not going to argue with the Telegraph. At least not now. Maybe if I had a bit more sleep, I'd challenge their bold assertion.
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@John Farrier

I am not arguing that it's rare, it's just a really big statement saying that no one has ever seen one swim. How many people in Africa live near water and might have seen one take a dip?
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And strangely, when they tried it, it drowned- They completely forgot to tell the tested animal that it had to learn how to swim in preparation for the experiment...
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