What do you call a baby giraffe?
A baby giraffe is called a calf. This name for the newborn or young form of an animal is applied to many quadruped land mammals, such as oxen and cow. Baby giraffes are typically born at a height just under 2 meters and a weight of about 100 kilograms. Female giraffe calves tend to be slightly larger than males. Twin calves are relatively uncommon, but they have occurred in a few cases.
The use of the term "calf" to describe a young mammal is seemingly independent of geography, as it is used to categorize not only North American mammals like cows, but also African giraffes and African and Asian elephants.
How big is a baby giraffe?
Female calves are normally a bit smaller than males, but both sexes grow quickly, almost doubling their height in the first year of life. The mother gives birth from a standing position, and the calf drops onto the ground. The calf can stand up within an hour of birth and immediately begins suckling milk from the mother. While a calf begins dining on leaves at about 4 months of age, he still relies on his mother's milk for most of his nourishment until the age of 9 to 12 months.
How long does a baby giraffe stay with its mother?
The gestation period for a giraffe is about 15 months. The mother gives birth from a standing position. A calf is about 6 1/2 feet tall at birth and weighs about 220 pounds. He stands up within an hour after birth and immediately begins suckling milk from his mother. Although a calf begins eating leaves at around 4 months of age, he relies on his mother's milk until he's 9 to 12 months old.
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