BABY GIRAFFE COASTER

The mother giraffe stands when a baby is born. If the baby were born head first, it would likely break its neck when it hit the ground. It the head came out last the weight of the body could break the neck. The birth dilemma is solved by having the baby come out hind feet first. The giraffe’s rear hips are much smaller than the front shoulders so the baby is born with its head resting on the rear hips. The hind legs hit the ground first and cushion the fall and the hips cushion the head during the landing. This baby giraffe was photographed at the zoo in Oakland, CA.