Lightning strikes giraffes, White sky streaks

Q: Do giraffes get struck by lightning? Amy, Phoenix, AZ

Lightning can strike the tallest animal.  Photo courtesy of Corel Corporation.

A: Yes, they do, especially in lands where frequent thunderstorms visit. A game reserve in South Africa is such a spot. Unusually high concentrations of dolomite rock draw 15 lightning strikes a month. In 1996, lightning struck and killed an 18-foot tall giraffe (5.5 m). He was standing on a hill in the Rhino and Lion Reserve in northeastern South Africa. A year later lightning electrocuted his mate. Shortly afterwards, lightning struck and injured a young giraffe in the park. Consequently, the reserve sold its last giraffe in 1998 and turned down more.

"I refused the last offer point blank, primarily because this is not giraffe country, but also because of the lightning problem. There is absolutely nothing we can do to protect giraffes," Kelly Pera, reserve manager told the South African Sunday Times.

Giraffes do nothing to protect themselves either, says Spook Skeleton, wildlife photographer.

Lightning did not strike other reserve animals, not even the 6-foot tall white rhino. However, the giraffe is much taller and the reserve has few tall trees. So, giraffes are vulnerable because of their height.

We humans know better than to stand on a hill in the middle of a thunderstorm and be the tallest thing around. But the poor giraffe probably didn't. So, behavior can increase the odds of a giraffe being hit. Probably the biggest factors, though, are geography and climate.

Wild giraffes presently range across the dry savannah and semi-desert south of Africa's Sahara--wherever trees grow. That must be a saving grace. In its natural home, the giraffe is not the tallest thing around. Trees are. What's more that region sees few lightning strikes (less than one cloud-to- ground flash per square kilometer per year), says Hugh Christian, Chief Scientist for NASA's satellite lightning detection system, which covers Earth.

Further Surfing:

GIRAFFE, Giraffa camelopardalis photography and facts

NOAA: Interesting facts, myths, trivia about lightning

Planet Ark: Brasilia zoo shows off latest member of giraffe family

I, April Holladay, am the author of this article, Lightning strikes giraffes, and I release its content under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 and later.

Q: Why do jets leave white streaks in the sky? Diane, Brinson, Georgia

Contrail, up high.  Photo courtesy of NASA.

A: The streaks-- aptly named "contrails", which stands for "condensation trails"-- are engine-made clouds. Water vapor from the turbulent jet-engine exhaust, or even from a high-flying piston-engine plane, condenses immediately as it leaves the plane and hits cold air. The trailing cloud is much like the one you make when you breathe out on a cold day and "see your breath".

Down lower, in warm moist air, the plane, plowing through the air, will drop the pressure behind its wings and propeller enough to condense water. Once again, a cloud forms, only, this time, behind the wing tips and propeller. The DC 10, in particular, makes such clouds on take off and landing.

Further Surfing:

USA Today: Evaporation and condensation

University of Wisconsin: Contrails

Jay Reynolds: A journey through the labyrinth

(Answered Jan. 31, 2003 updated on 25 July 2007)