What Are Baby Giraffes Called?
Baby giraffes are called calves. A calf can stand and walk about an hour after it is born, and it begins exploring vegetation within a week.
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.
Giraffe babies are usually calm. If a mother leaves a calf alone, it will sit quietly and wait for her to return.
Older calves stay in a “nursery” with other calves. One giraffe mother stays to watch over them while the others find food and socialize. Calves develop social skills through nursery play as well as build strength and dexterity.
Although they will eat bits of vegetation when very young, giraffes do not eat leaves regularly until they are about 4 months old. They continue nursing until they are about 6 to 9 months of age.
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.
