Is a Detroit Zoo Giraffe Worth $80,000?

This story was reported and written by Judy Davids.

"A healthy, breeding female giraffe from the Detroit Zoo could fetch $80,000 on the open market," reported the Detroit Free Press last month.

Could Detroit possibly sell a giraffe to help pay off its debt?

"Like many others, we don't know how the bankruptcy will impact the zoo and we won't speculate," said Patricia Janeway, the zoo's communications director. "I should add that, regardless of the city's challenges, we will continue to provide the community with great experiences and new memories as we continue to care for wildlife."

Price tag aside, Janeway was happy to share five interesting facts about the zoo's lanky residents.

5 things to know about giraffes

1. The giraffe has the same number of vertebrae in its neck as a human (seven).
2. A giraffe’s tongue can be as long as 22 inches, which helps it to pluck leaves from thorny vegetation.
3. A giraffe eats 16 to 20 hours a day, consuming up to 75 pounds of fresh browse.
4. Giraffes get to spend more quality time together than most mammals, considering they rarely sleep more than 20 minutes each day.
5. A giraffe’s heart can weigh up to 25 pounds (by comparison, an adult human heart weighs about 10 ounces).