Most of us will only see baby giraffes on television, the internet or in the zoo. If we’re lucky enough to travel and see them in the wild we would find baby giraffes in various parts of Africa. A visit to sub-Saharan Africa would be a good idea if you’d like to see baby giraffes, and they are most widespread in East Africa. You can also see baby giraffes finding refuge in national parks in northern and southern Africa.
Although baby giraffes aren’t on the World Conservation Union’s Red List of Threatened Animals, there are some subspecies which are endangered. Baby giraffes at risk are from the Sudanese Kordofan giraffe and the Nigerian giraffe species. The Nigerian giraffe is at such risk of extinction that baby giraffes are no longer found in their native Nigeria and can only be found in Chad.
Baby giraffes are born in open habitats as their parents favour wooded savannas and open woodlands, and if they’re in an arid area their herds will centre around riparian forests of the type that grow along watercourses. You won’t find baby giraffes in areas of moist, tropical forestation as this is a type of habitat their parents don’t like.
Although acacia trees are a favourite with these creatures, baby giraffes will also learn from their parents to eat a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. Gradually the baby giraffes will increase the amount they eat until, as an adult, they could eat up to 140lbs of foliage per day.
Baby giraffes can be born all through the year as female giraffes can go into heat at any time. Male and female baby giraffes will then wander with the loosely structured herd. As the baby giraffes grow, the males will become solitary to wander in search of a mate, so they have to learn to fight off other males using the nine-inch horns and strong necks they will develop.
Baby giraffes, like their parents, have the Latin name camelopardelis as the ancient Romans thought they looked like a mixture of camels and leopards. The main predators threatening baby giraffes are lions, and about half of all baby giraffes born will fall victim to these animals. Nile crocodiles and lappet-faced vultures are the other predators most dangerous to baby giraffes.
To protect our baby giraffes we need to preserve their habitat. Some farmers shoot giraffes as they graze in the same area as their animals, but many farmers leave them alone as they browse for leaves at a much higher level than other animals and don’t cause serious damage.
