wander off and graze. Even though calves suckle for up to two years, and the absence of the mother prevents them from receiving nourishment this way, the calf will not suffer because a giraffe calf begins eating vegetation as young as three weeks of age. Because of this loose parental bond, calves bond together for companionship. At times, groups of very young giraffe calves are watched over by a "baby-sitter" - an old female beyond the age of calf-bearing. Although left alone, the calves remain close enough to their family band to maintain visual contact with its lookouts.
Physical characteristics: Adult males weigh 2,420 to 4,215 pounds, females 1,540 to 2600 pounds. Newborns average six feet in height, mature adults range from 14 to 18 feet. The head is large by ruminant standards and tapers to a point. The giraffe has a long (18-20 inches), prehensile tongue and horns of solid bone, covered with skin; a main pair in both sexes but females are thin and tufted, males are thick and bald on
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