Say the word “Giraffologist” slowly and imagine what it would be like to spend your days studying these gentle giants with long necks and big hearts.
The book Anne And Her Tower Of Giraffes: The Adventurous Life of the First Giraffologist, by Karlin Gray and illustrated by Aparna Varma, explores the life of the world’s first giraffologist. You might recognise the name Jane Goodall from her studies with chimpanzees, but Anne Innis Dagg is less known for her work on giraffes.
Anne’s lifelong passion for giraffes began at the age of three when she first encountered the majestic animal at a zoo. As her eyes gazed into the giraffe’s big eyes at the zoo, she was mesmerised. And she never forgot it. Despite ridicule for her interest in giraffes, Anne’s determination to study these graceful creatures persisted from her early years to graduate school.
In 1956, Anne went alone to South Africa to study giraffes at Fleur de Lys Ranch. She was the first scientist to study wild animal behaviour in Africa—four years before Jane Goodall. The book tells Anne’s story but includes an interview with her, a bibliography, and insights on apartheid, providing a rich learning experience for young readers.
By sharing Anne’s incredible journey with your children through this book, you can ignite their curiosity, inspire them to follow their dreams and instil a sense of wonder about the natural world and the power of perseverance
You’ll find the resource here or here.
Click here to learn more about Giraffes and Biomimicry – How to foster students’ love of learning, creative thinking and desires to improve the world
Frequently Asked Questions
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for solutions, then applying what we learn to design and problem-solving. Instead of inventing from scratch, it means studying how plants, animals, and ecosystems have already solved a challenge — like staying cool, collecting water, or absorbing carbon — and adapting that strategy for human use.
How does biomimicry help address climate change?
Nature has been adapting to extreme conditions for billions of years, so many organisms already hold working solutions to problems we now face at a larger scale — cooling buildings without electricity (termite mounds), collecting water in drought (the Namib beetle), protecting coastlines from storms (mangrove roots), and capturing carbon (corals, forests, kelp). Biomimicry means studying those solutions and applying the same principles to human design.
How can children get involved in biomimicry?
Children don’t need special training to think like a biomimicrist — just curiosity and a habit of asking “how does nature solve this?” Simple ways to start include a backyard scavenger hunt for nature’s patterns, a “design-an-animal” challenge for a changing climate, or building a small model (like a passive-cooling structure or a water collector) inspired by something they’ve observed outdoors.
Is biomimicry only for scientists and engineers?
No — biomimicry is as much a mindset as a profession. Anyone can practice it by observing nature closely and asking design questions. Professional biomimicry practitioners apply it in architecture, materials science, and engineering, but the same core skill — careful observation followed by “what if we built it that way?” — is exactly what this post’s classroom and family activities are designed to build in children.
Åsa Jomård
In 2015, Åsa completed a course in Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With over 10 years of experience exploring nature for inspiration and as a former member of Ben, Biomimicry Education Network, she brings both academic background and creative teaching experience to her work. Her materials seamlessly integrate stories, nature observations, and design challenges, making them perfect for inquiry-led learning in early primary contexts.
AI was used as a Thinking Partner.