Giraffe Stuffed Animal & History

by ell brown

The giraffe has been described as "magnificent in appearance, bizarre in form, unique in gait, and colossal in height." They are rather unusual animals when you think about it and as is the case, it's no surprise to find that giraffe stuffed animals are gaining in popularity simply because they're different.

In Africa, some ancient cultures revered the giraffe so highly that the animal has been found etched on cave paintings and in prehistoric rock. At one time, the giraffe was an unknown animal outside of Africa and because of its unusual looks and shock appeal, it was often sent as a diplomatic gift to other countries. One of the first known recordings of such a thing was in 1415, when a giraffe was presumably sent from Kenya to China.

The giraffes scientific name Giraffe Camelopardalis, is derived from a mistake in which the animal was thought to be a cross between a camel and a leopard. It's the tallest living animal on the planet standing up to 19 feet; its unique 'design' has adapted to be able to reach vegetation that is otherwise inaccessible to other plant eating animals. A giraffe stuffed animal is extremely lifelike in design with a body that is solid and a neck that is usually soft and pliable. While cuddliness may not come to mind when considering the purchase of a giraffe stuffed animal over a plush teddy bear, they do have a certain coziness about them nonetheless. You will soon find your child hugging their giraffe stuffed animal just like they do their other plush toys.

Some interesting facts about the giraffe include: despite its long neck, it only has seven vertebrae the same as most other mammals including man; even though they are mostly seen roaming in groups, they are not known to form social groups like lions they loosely associate with other giraffes and change those associations constantly. Giraffes can survive and go without water for very long periods of time and while they sometimes eat grass and fruit from various trees and shrubs, their principal diet is from the acacia tree. Even though this tree is equipped with thorns, the giraffes tongue is long and muscular and is adapted especially to be able to pick what it wants from the trees. And, despite its very large size, the giraffe is known as a selective feeder and can survive on as little as 15 pounds of foliage per day.

The next time your child requests a new plush toy, consider a giraffe stuffed animal instead of the standard bear. If nothing else, the sheer look of surprise on your child's face at receiving such an unusual plush animal, will be worth its weight in gold.

Angeline Hope is a collector of large plush stuffed animals. You can view a selection of large plush stuffed animals including stuffed giraffe plush toy animals at MyBigPlush.

Find More Animal Pound Articles

Cheetah Stuffed Animal & History

by emily.bluestar

If you're a cat lover and a lover of plush toys, then a cheetah stuffed animal is a must have addition to any plush animal collection. If you don't already have a cheetah stuffed animal, this is one plush cat that you need to go out and get. If you're worried that you won't be able to find something realistic enough looking, fear not online stores have got you covered. Some have a stunning four foot cheetah stuffed animal that looks like it just walked off the African savannah; it comes already posed in a sitting position and from a distance, you might even be fooled into thinking it's the real thing.

For anyone already familiar with cats both wild and domestic- it won't come as any surprise to learn that cheetah's are the fastest land mammals. Over a short distance, they can run at up to speeds of 70 miles per hour. In fact, in just three seconds flat, they can go from zero to 60 miles an hour. When chasing down prey, however, they typically run at half that speed. Alas, any hopes of seeing your cheetah stuffed animal run at break-neck speeds just won't happen given their plush bodies and obvious limited mobility. Imagination though, can go a very, very long way.

Unlike most cats, cheetahs hunt during the day. They have incredibly sharp eyesight so they can scope out their prey antelope and hares are favorites. With their spotted coats, cheetahs have no problem blending in with the tall, dry grass from which they hide and look for prey. They usually go at a very fast run to attack and then do their best to knock down whatever it is they are chasing - the whole process takes less than a minute. If successful in their pursuit, cheetahs then drag their prey to a hiding place that offers up shade so as to ensure other predators stay away from their food. Cheetahs only need to drink water every three or four days so they are quite able to stay and stand guard over their food.

Cheetahs can be found in eastern and southwestern Africa. It's estimated that only 12,000 of these wild cats remain and with the tall grasslands they like to hide in are slowly disappearing due to settlers.

If the four foot cheetah in some online stores are too big for your tastes, you also have the option of choosing from a two foot sitting cheetah stuffed animal or a 31 inch floppy plush cheetah which makes for a terrific pillow. Or, if you feel so inclined, the floppy cheetah stuffed animal can lay quite cozily across a bed or a couch. These types of cheetah stuffed animals from online stores are really more conducive to 'living' in your home rather than being stowed away on a forgotten shelf somewhere. Like the real cat, these cheetah stuffed animals are a site to behold, so they should be shown off as much as possible.

Angeline Hope is a collector of large stuffed animal toys. You can view a selection of large stuffed animal toys including cheetah stuffed animal toys at MyBigPlush.

Horse Stuffed Animals & History

by ell brown

Just as children wish for a puppy of their very own, so too do they wish for a pony as well. While puppies are a lifelong commitment of care, love, and attention, so too are horses but on an even larger scale. Just the cost of keeping a horse alone, can break the bank if you are not in the financial position to maintain it. That's where horse stuffed animals come in. While you get everything you could possibly want with a horse stuffed animal, the only cost you will incur is the actual purchase of the plush pet. There will be no worry about feeding it, housing it, exercising it, or taking it to the vet. The best part is, some horse stuffed animals are big enough that a 100 pound child can ride on them giving them somewhat of a feeling of what it might be like to ride the real thing at the very least, their vivid imaginations can dream up what it would be like. Either way, horse stuffed animals are a perfect substitute for the real thing.

The relationship between horses and humans is an ancient one. It is believed that the first horses were likely domesticated some 4,000 years ago and until the invention of the engine, they remained vital to many human societies.

Despite the 400 breeds of horses that exist, there is only one species of horse and they are all grazers. Most horses in the world are domesticated, but there are some that still roam free and are wild. Wild North American mustangs are actually the descendants of the horse the Europeans brought over more than 400 years ago. In fact, wild horses are all descendants of once tame animals that ran free for some three generations. The only wild horse that did not come from domesticated ancestors is the Przewalski. Today, however, this breed only exists in captivity as that last known wild Przewalski's were last seen in Mongolia in 1968.

Wild horses are made up of groups of up to 20 individuals with a stallion a mature male leading the group. The rest of their 'family' consists of females called mares and foals which are young babies. When young males in the group become colts, they are driven away by the stallion. The colts go on to roam with other young males until they can form their own group with females.

Wild or domestic it doesn't really matter to a true horse lover though many would like to see wild horses remain undisturbed in their natural environment. If your love of horses runs deep and you are one of many that are not privileged enough to have one of your own, horse stuffed animals really do make the real thing come to life. And the bigger the horse stuffed animal is, the more lifelike it seems.

Angeline Hope is a collector of large plush horse toys. You can view a selection of large plush horse toys at MyBigPlush.

More Animal Pound Articles