Climate crisis, habitat loss and poaching have reduced its numbers — but will Trump put the kibosh on protections?

Researchers don’t rule out the necks-for-sex hypothesis, but they think that "the increased nutritional demands of females drove the evolution of giraffe long necks"

Who doesn’t admire a giraffe? Spindly legs, unfeasibly long neck, lolloping across the African savannah like an extra from Jurassic Park, 50cm tongue, large brown eyes with long, black lashes, able to stand within 30 minutes of being born.

Ruth O'Connor's weekly guide to inspiring ideas and beautiful things