For more information or to locate a shelter in your community contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800)799-Safe (7233) or the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence toll free number (800)524-4765. CALIFORNIA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINES (UPDATE SUMMER, 2006) Produced and Distributed by:
Gestation. Giraffes are pregnant for a period between 14 and 15 months, or 453 to 464 days, one of longest gestation periods in the animal kingdom. Giraffes usually give birth to one offspring at a time, although twins are born occasionally.
Offspring. As in cattle, female giraffes are called cows, while the males are called bulls. After mating, the cow will have a gestation period of around 14 months. During birth, the calf will drop to the ground, since mother giraffes give birth standing up. The fall can be as far as 5 feet (1.5 m), according to National Geographic. New calves are quite large, at 6 feet tall (1.8 m), 100 to 150 lbs. (45 to 68 kg), according to the San Diego Zoo.