Thursday, June 21, is World Giraffe Day.

It is the longest day of the year - and therefore the ideal day to celebrate the tallest (and our favouritest) land mammal in the whole wide world.

And what better way to mark World Giraffe Day by making a fuss of our mascot, Gilley, who has provided comfort and joy to countless people who have been affected by encephalitis.

For those of you who don't know Gilley, he was written about in Gilley the Giraffe... Who Changed, a book which we give to youngsters who want to understand more about encephalitis.

It is not an understatement to say that Gilley and his book has helped many children come to terms with the impact that encephalitis has had on them personally or a loved one.

Gilley has also made it his mission to go and live with as many children - and adults! - as possible to offer cuddles when they are feeling blue.

So, it is no surprise that we want you to join us in celebrating Gilley this World Giraffe Day.

What Can I Do?

1. On World Giraffe Day – take a photo of you and your Gilley and tag us in on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account, writing something like:

On #WorldGiraffeDay we are celebrating Gilley the Giraffe who has done so much to support children whose lives have been affected by #Encephalitis. This is me and my Gilley!

2. Make a Donation or buy a Gilley the Giraffe. Just £8.40 will contribute to our costs of sending another Gilley on a mission to bring comfort to children who have been affected by encephalitis.

Facts about Giraffes 

Facts courtesy of National Geographic Kids

1) Giraffes are found in the dry savannas of Africa, where they roam among the open plains and woodlands.

2) Well known for their long necks, these gentle giants are the world’s tallest living land animals. An adult male can grow to around 5.5m – that’s taller than three adult humans!

3) A giraffe’s height is helpful for keeping a look out for predators, such as lionsand hyenas. Their excellent eyesight allows them to spot hungry beasts from far away, too.

4) Herbivores, giraffes only eat plants. Their favourite grub is the acacia tree, and they use their long necks to reach the leaves and buds in the treetops. Their long tongues (which grow to a whopping 53cm!) also help them pull down leaves growing way up high.

5) And boy do these guys have an appetite! They spend most of their time eating, and can guzzle up to 45kg of leaves and twigs a day!

6) Whilst they may eat a lot, giraffes don’t drink much water. This is because they get most of their water from their leafy meals, and only need to drink once every few days.

7) Giraffes are very social animals and roam around in groups. These groups, called towers, typically have around 15 members led by an adult male. The other members are females and young males.

8) To see who is stronger, males (called bulls) fight by butting their long necks and heads. This is known as “necking“. These fights aren’t usually dangerous, and end when one bull admits defeat and walks away.

9) Female giraffes give birth standing up. The result? Newborns are welcomed to the world with a 1.5m drop to the ground! Ouch! But these infants are quick to get on their feet – within 30 minutes they are standing, and only hours later they”re able to run with their mothers.

10) In the wild these beautiful creatures live for around 25 years. In captivity they live longer, and have been known to reach 40 years old.