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Though
normally silent, calves make mewing calls. Courting bulls
may emit a raucous cough. Giraffes also give alarm snorts,
and moaning, snoring hissing, and flutelike sounds have
been reported.
HOW IT MOVES: Giraffe has two ways to locomote. Walk and
gallop. In galloping it can reach the top speed of 37 mph
[60 kph] The giraffe's legs work in pairs like a running
rabbit. To drink, a giraffe must either straddle or bend
its forelegs.
REPRODUCTION: The Giraffe has babies all year. It has the
most during rainy season. First pregnant in fourth year,
gestation 14 to 14.5 months; minimum interval hetween calves
c. 16 months. Males begin competing for matings at 7 years
of age. Male's also gains weight with age, through bone
deposition the process that creates the extra knobs on an
old bull's head enabling a bull to deliver ever heavier
blows during contests. Combat is rare, though, as bulls
from the same area all know their place in a rank hierarchy
established through daily contests while maturing in bachelor
herds. By the time a female is ready to mate, the local
first male has defeated all lesser rivals without ever coming
to blows or conflict.
OFFSPRING AND MATERNAL CARE: A cow returns to the same location
each time she has calves. The first week or so a calf lies
out half the day and most of the night, carefully guarded
by its mother. The increased security of a maternity group
guarding calves in a creche allows a mother to go further
and stay away longer. But calves are rarely left totally
unattended; absent mothers usually return before dark to
suckle their offspring and stay with them overnight. Although
giraffes are weaned as yearlings and nutritionally independent
at 16 months, the maternal bond lasts up to 22 months.
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