In the African savanna, the learning curve for survival is steep and unforgiving. The strong will survive, and the rest may become meals for hungry predators. The birth of a giraffe brings this reality into view.

Giraffe moms, or cows, are pregnant for about 15 months. This long gestation period is necessary to allow the calves to become highly developed in the safety of their mother’s womb. Most newborn calves weigh in at around 220 pounds and stand over six feet tall.

Once the calf is born and falls to the ground, it can’t waste any time standing up. Calves normally stand within 30 minutes of birth. In the video above, you’ll see the first moments of a giraffe’s life. While the