A baby female Masai Giraffe who has been named Shani

A baby female Masai Giraffe who has been named Shani, gets an affectionate nuzzle from her mother Naema, after being born three weeks ago at the Los Angeles Zoo, on September 24, 2010. Able to stand shortly after birth, calves can grow four feet during their first year and when fully grown can reach a height of 18 feet, making them the tallest land mammal.


Native to Kenya and Tanzania, Masai giraffes can reach a speed of 35 miles per hour with kicks so powerful that they�re capable of decapitating a lion. Giraffes communicate with one another through posturing, movement and carriage of their tails, retreat and sometimes vocalization, which includes moos, bellows and whistles.



A baby female Masai Giraffe who has been named Shani, rests near her mother Naema, after being born three weeks ago at the Los Angeles Zoo, on September 24, 2010. Able to stand shortly after birth, calves can grow four feet during their first year and when fully grown can reach a height of 18 feet, making them the tallest land mammal. Native to Kenya and Tanzania, Masai giraffes can reach a speed of 35 miles per hour with kicks so powerful that they�re capable of decapitating a lion. Giraffes communicate with one another through posturing, movement and carriage of their tails, retreat and sometimes vocalization, which includes moos, bellows and whistles.




A baby female Masai Giraffe who has been named Shani, stands beside her mother Naema, after being born three weeks ago at the Los Angeles Zoo, on September 24, 2010. Able to stand shortly after birth, calves can grow four feet during their first year and when fully grown can reach a height of 18 feet, making them the tallest land mammal. Native to Kenya and Tanzania, Masai giraffes can reach a speed of 35 miles per hour with kicks so powerful that they�re capable of decapitating a lion. Giraffes communicate with one another through posturing, movement and carriage of their tails, retreat and sometimes vocalization, which includes moos, bellows and whistles.




A baby female Masai Giraffe who has been named Shani (R), stands beside her mother Naema (L), and another juvenile (top) after being born three weeks ago at the Los Angeles Zoo, on September 24, 2010. Able to stand shortly after birth, calves can grow four feet during their first year and when fully grown can reach a height of 18 feet, making them the tallest land mammal. Native to Kenya and Tanzania, Masai giraffes can reach a speed of 35 miles per hour with kicks so powerful that they�re capable of decapitating a lion. Giraffes communicate with one another through posturing, movement and carriage of their tails, retreat and sometimes vocalization, which includes moos, bellows and whistles.




A baby female Masai Giraffe who has been named Shani, stands beside her mother Naema, after being born three weeks ago at the Los Angeles Zoo, on September 24, 2010. Able to stand shortly after birth, calves can grow four feet during their first year and when fully grown can reach a height of 18 feet, making them the tallest land mammal. Native to Kenya and Tanzania, Masai giraffes can reach a speed of 35 miles per hour with kicks so powerful that they�re capable of decapitating a lion. Giraffes communicate with one another through posturing, movement and carriage of their tails, retreat and sometimes vocalization, which includes moos, bellows and whistles.

source: Daylife
photo: Gettyimages