Dwarf Giraffes Exist and They Are Freaking Adorable

Dwarf animals are beyond cute. But did you know that giraffes, the lankiest animals on earth, can also have dwarfism? Scroll down to delight your eyes with the cutest thing you'll see all day.

Posted by nightqueen

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Dwarfism, or skeletal dysplasia, is a relatively well-known affliction that affects around 1 in 40,000 people. Dwarfism can effect some domesticated animals, but it is practically unheard-of in wild animals. That is, until scientists spotted a dwarf Nubian giraffe (aptly named Gimli) in Uganda in 2015. Since then, only one other dwarf giraffe has been seen: Nigel, a dwarf giraffe in Namibia.

Via YouTube
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Dwarfism is a skeletal disorder that results in abnormal bone development. In the case of Nigel and Gimli, their legs are disproportionately small to their bodies, although their necks aren't. And both of them are about half the size of average-sized giraffes. While most giraffes reach 15-20 feet in height, Gimli is 9 feet tall and Nigel is 8 feet tall.

Via Interesting Engineering
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Nigel and Gimli may have some trouble competing with other males for mates, but fortunately they're tall enough to eat from the lower branches of trees. And we couldn't think of any creatures that are as cute as these giraffes (except maybe this dwarf elephant!).

Via Insider