If the opportunity presents itself, giraffe will drink water. However, they must first splay their forelegs and/or bend their knees to lower their necks and reach the surface of the water due to their slightly odd body structure. Drinking puts them into a vulnerable position – in particular when there are predators around. It takes them a while to regain their footing and at water points giraffe can often be observed hesitating and waiting a long time before actually drinking.
Despite their large size, giraffe can obtain sufficient moisture from their food plants, making water not a necessity for them. Even when water is easily accessible, many giraffe do not drink regularly and may even abstain from drinking altogether. However, in areas where water is readily available, giraffe can often be observed drinking, though not necessarily daily.
