DUBAI // In slow-motion, a herd of giraffe gallop across the sand dunes on the outskirts of the city, the Burj Khalifa and rest of the Dubai skyline visible in the background.
The 15-second video, posted on the Instagram account of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, shows about 20 of the long-legged herbivores.
It was most likely taken behind Nad Al Sheba, the location of Wadi Al Safa Protected Area, which is also home to camels, oryx, and ostriches.
While it may look like the animals are out of place, giraffe are no strangers to the desert, said Mark Craig, the director of wildlife services at Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort.
"Our giraffes are coping with the climate here very well. Giraffes require the same care as any antelope species, they need access to shade and drinking water at all times," he said.
Some species of giraffe, such as the Nubian, live in the desert. "We feed our giraffes alfalfa, dried grass and hay, and pellets that act as nutritional supplements," said Mr Craig, who added that giraffes could survive on eating vegetation in the desert.
And caring for giraffes is not particularly high-maintenance.
"The bigger the animal the more space it would need and giraffes are social animals so they stay in their groups, which need appropriate space."
