“Necking” behaviour in the giraffe

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<jats:p>Previous references to “necking” behaviour, and the main features of the study area are briefly outlined.</jats:p><jats:p>“Necking” behaviour in giraffe takes place only in all male herds. When the animals are in a head to head posture the intensity is either high or low, but when animals take up a head to tail posture the actions are always of high intensity and appear to have greater sexual significance.</jats:p><jats:p>The significance of “necking” is discussed, and it is suggested that these ritualized actions form an important sexuo‐social bonding mechanism whereby a hierarchy is created amongst the males,and movement between strictly bachelor and mixed herds helps to maintain contact between the sexesin this polygamous mammal.</jats:p>

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