What sort of noise does a giraffe make?

Answer 1

We thought we'd read somewhere that giraffes did not have voice boxes and weren't capable of producing any vocalizations, but we decided to search the Net and see if this was true. We typed "giraffes make noise" into the Yahoo! search box and looked to see what we could rustle up.
Although we did find a page or two that claimed the animal makes no noise at all, we found many more zookeepers, veterinarians, and other animal experts who debunked this popular misconception. On a page from Discovery Magazine.com, a kids' magazine devoted to science, a young reader echoed your question. The resident expert consulted with a zoo vet and learned that although giraffes are generally quiet animals, they can make a bleating sound, similar to that of a young calf or sheep.
A page from the Indianapolis Zoo confirmed this fact, and stated that giraffes can also make a "low, fluttering sound." Yet another zoo source says that while giraffes don't often make noise, "they are capable of frighteningly loud grunts and roars if they feel threatened."
Apparently, the belief that giraffes make no noise is simply a tall tale -- the animals can make a number of sounds.
If you are looking for some fascinating, and true, giraffe facts, here are a few:
Giraffes are the tallest land animal and can grow up to 18 feet tall.
The giraffe's neck can be 6 feet long, and its tongue can stretch 20 inches.
Giraffes give birth standing up, so the baby giraffe enters the world with a drop to the ground.
Each animal's coat has a unique pattern, much like human fingerprints.
And we're not stretching the truth!



Do giraffes make a noise?

I was curious about giraffes too! I have never heard one make a sound. So I checked with the Montgomery zoo, and the veterinarian said that although giraffes are very quiet animals, they do on occasion make a quiet "bleating" sound, like a young calf or sheep.

http://www.discoverymagazine.com/digger/d96dd/d9610dda.html

Answer 2

I was impressed by Steve's answer, debunking yet another of my long-held beliefs, that giraffes have no larynges and cannot therefore make a noise. However!! I decided to do some investigationj of my own and discovered the following article. The gist of it goes : giraffes have voiceboxes, but cannot get enough airflow to make more than a quiet bleat.

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Biomechanics of the giraffe larynx and trachea.

Despite possession of a well developed larynx and a gregarious nature, the Giraffe is able to utter only low moans or bleats. Morphological and histological examination, together with measurements of trachea and subglottic area, on three fresh larynges (Giraffa camelopardalis) has made it possible to explain the lack of vocal power. Factors such as thoracic expiratory flow rate, length of trachea and recurrent laryngeal nerves, together with morphological details of vocal folds, and intrinsic laryngeal muscles have all been considered, providing a unique example of the relationship between morphology and function in the mammalial larynx.

Answer 3

Have a look at the South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut Movie. In it, the secret signal in anticipation of police or guards coming to foil the release of Terance & Philip, the noise used is that which a falling giraffe makes. It's hard to type, but sounds somrthing like "Mmwhah, mmwhah".

Answer 4

Giraffes are actually mute, they make no noise at all. It's something to do with the length of their necks. But you can still "Listen to their hooves, clippety clop, clippety clop."

Answer 5

I'm not to sure how to describe it but but it goes on for ages and it's a pain in the neck when they start

Answer 6

They make a bleating sound, similar to that of a young calf or sheep.

Answer 7

its a gurgle gurgle sound as u pour the drink out

Answer 8

a camp one apparently

Answer 9

I don't if they even do make a sound. Do they?

Answer 10

It goes "munch munch munch... my, what a delicious tree."