Charles Darwin cited the giraffe as an outstanding example of natural selection. Supposedly, as a result of extended droughts, the supply of green leaves could be obtained only at the top of trees, and therefore the shorter necked giraffe died off. The giraffes which grew longer necks survived.
The tall tale goes like this : The giraffe used to look just like other grazing animals in Africa. But the giraffe felt that the "survival of the fittest" depended on reaching up and plucking leaves from still higher branches on the acacia trees. As time went by, they kept reaching higher and higher. Only those that reached the highest branches of leaves survived. All the other giraffes died from starvation. So only the longest-necked giraffes had enough food to eat while all their brother and sister giraffes died from lack of food. Sad story; don't you think?
In the realm of ideas, current use of the giraffe's neck as the classic case of Darwinian evolution does not grow from firm and continuous historical roots. The standard story, in fact, is both fatuous and unsupported. Why then have we been bamboozled into accepting the usual tale without questioning? I suspect two primary reasons, we love a sensible and satisfying story and we are disinclined to challenge apparent authority. I say there is no fossil evidence of shorter necked giraffes.
The long neck of the giraffe is a unique design that God created. Its neck has a series of arteries and veins leading to the brain that control the blood to and from the brain. The giraffe's brain is protected from hemorrhaging when it bends down to drink water. (ref: Charles B. Thaxton, "Of Pandas and People", Haughton Publisher, 1996)
The giraffe is the only mammal alive today that has a long neck. It was created by God for His pleasure and purpose (Revelation 4:11). For more information about the giraffe go to http://www.wikipedia.com.
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