Yes, giraffes have vocal cords. They can produce sound, but they use their voice far less than most animals. Their quiet nature makes many people assume they cannot make noise at all, yet giraffes communicate in subtle ways that are easy to overlook. Most of their communication happens through low tones, soft bursts of sound, and body language rather than loud calls.
Nighttime humming has been discovered as another form of herd communication at night. Though this is at such a low vibration, it is mostly inaudible to humans.
Read on to learn more about giraffes’ vocal cords and how conservation efforts by Save Giraffes Now are helping protect these incredible animals and the lands they call home.
Key Takeaways
- Yes, giraffes have vocal cords, but they use their voice quietly and sparingly.
- Most of their communication happens through low sounds, subtle movements, and body language.
- Nighttime humming shows that giraffes communicate more than people once thought.
- Staying quiet helps giraffes avoid predators, but it also makes them vulnerable to poaching and habitat pressure.
- Save Giraffes Now protects them by creating safe spaces where they can live, communicate, and move freely.
Yes, Giraffes Have Vocal Cords
Giraffes do have vocal cords, and their throat structure is fully capable of producing sound. What confuses people is how rarely they use their voice. Unlike lions, elephants, or zebras, giraffes do not rely on loud calls to communicate. Their vocal cords sit deep in the neck, and the long airway above them changes how sound travels, which may be one reason their voices are so soft.
Even with this anatomy, giraffes can snort, grunt, hiss, and produce low notes that are hard for humans to hear. They simply choose silence most of the time, using their voice only when it feels necessary.
Here’s How Giraffes Actually Communicate
Giraffes use quiet sounds, gentle movements, and subtle signals to stay connected with the herd. Snorts, grunts, and soft cough-like sounds help them express caution or mild discomfort. Calves make bleating sounds when looking for their mothers. Adults sometimes let out a low hum at night, a sound so deep that many people do not hear it at all.
They also rely heavily on body language. A tilt of the head, a slow step back, or a shift in posture can share information with other giraffes. Ear movements and neck position play a big role, too. These signals allow them to move as a group without creating noise that might attract predators.
The Nighttime Hum: What Studies Found
Researchers studying giraffe behavior noticed a faint humming sound recorded during the night in zoos and protected areas. These hums are low and steady, almost like a soft vibration. They happen mostly when the herd is resting or moving quietly after dark.
Scientists believe these hums help giraffes communicate when visibility is low. The sound may guide movement, signal safety, or help herd members stay aware of each other without making loud noises. The tones are deep enough that many humans never notice them, but recording equipment picks them up clearly.
Does Silence Affect Giraffe Safety?
Silence helps giraffes survive, but it also creates challenges. Their quiet behavior makes it harder for rangers to track them in the wild, especially in large landscapes where sound would normally signal movement. When poachers enter these areas, giraffes do not give warning calls or loud alerts. They often remain still until danger is close, which puts them at higher risk.
Habitat loss adds even more pressure. As open land shrinks, giraffes move through unfamiliar areas where they cannot rely on the safety of cover or distance. Their quiet nature becomes a disadvantage in these disturbed environments, where threats appear faster than the herd can react.
Their silence protects them in the wild, but it also shows how much they rely on safe, stable habitats to survive.
Help Us Protect these Majestic Gentle Giants
Giraffes live with a calm that few animals have. This gentle nature is part of what makes them extraordinary, yet it also places them at risk. They do not signal danger with loud calls. And as poaching, habitat loss, and rising human pressures escalate across Africa, their quiet way of life grows more vulnerable each year.
Save Giraffes Now is working to change that. We are doing this by protecting natural spaces, supporting rangers, and moving threatened herds into safe areas. Each protected landscape, rescued animal, and restored habitat brings them closer to long-term security.
Your support makes this work possible. Donate now to help safeguard land, strengthen field teams, and keep giraffes safe in the wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t giraffes make much noise?
Giraffes stay quiet to avoid attracting predators. They communicate through low sounds, gentle movements, and subtle signals instead of loud calls.
Can giraffes make a noise?
Giraffes snort, grunt, hiss, and make soft cough-like sounds. Calves bleat, and adults may hum at night. These sounds are not loud, which is why they go unnoticed.
Do giraffes hum at night?
Yes. Research shows that giraffes hum in deep infrasound tones during the night. These hums may help herd members stay aware of each other when visibility is low.
What animal has no vocal cords?
Giraffes have vocal cords, but some animals do not. Turtles, certain species of fish, and some insects lack vocal cords and rely on other ways to communicate.