Are Giraffes Born Head First?

Technically speaking giraffes are born head first. When a mother giraffe is ready to give birth, she normally gives birth to one calf or on rare occasions, twins. She will give birth to her young standing up. The calf emerges head and front legs first, having broken through the fetal membranes, and falls to the ground, severing the umbilical cord.

The calf’s mother can typically then be found grooming her newborn and helping it stand up on its own. Within only a few hours of birth, the calf will be able to run around and is almost indistinguishable from a one week old.