What Predators Eat Giraffes?

Photo: Emily Smith / Flickr
Photo: Emily Smith / Flickr

The only significant predator of the giraffe is the lion. A lion will attack a giraffe for food if it is desperate for a meal since giraffes are not easy prey.

The most vulnerable time for a giraffe to fall prey to an attack is after it is born and is still very young. Young giraffes sleep a lot during the first few weeks of life, which can make them an easy target for predators, such as wild dogs, hyenas, leopards and lions. Young giraffes are curious, not as tall or as strong as an adult and make easy targets. About 75 percent of young giraffes do not survive to adulthood.