How Do Giraffes Mate?

How Do Giraffes Mate
••• Anna_Om/iStock/GettyImages

Giraffes are similar to horses, donkeys and mules in their mating method. When the female is receptive and ready to mate, she stands still and allows the male to approach her. He mounts her from the rear, with both female and male facing in the same direction, and inserts his penis into her vagina. When mating ends, he withdraws and backs away. The timing of mating is wholly dependent on when the female is ready and willing.

The Female Cycle

The female reproductive cycle doesn't have any relationship to season – so the species can mate at any time of year. Female giraffes go into estrus, when they ovulate, every two weeks year round. When this happens, she produces chemicals called pheromones that send strong signals to males, letting them know she's ready. Male giraffes spend much of their time wandering in search of these tantalizing scents.

Finding a Mate

When a male giraffe finds a female giraffe in estrus, he nudges her rear end with his nose to encourage her to urinate. The male tastes the urine, checking for signals that she's ready to mate. If things look promising, he follows the female around until she stands still, indicating that the time is right. Occasionally, the male might be anxious and try too soon, but the female just walks away until she's made a positive decision. Sometimes this goes on for hours or even days, and occasionally nothing happens until another, more desirable male appears. She may go up to the new arrival and rub her neck on his, indicating her preference. Often a female giraffe chooses the most dominant giraffe available as a partner, possibly helping strengthening the genes passed to her young.

Pregnancy

If the female giraffe conceives, her pregnancy lasts for about 14 1/2 months. She gives birth to her baby standing up, so the newborn's first experience is to fall the long distance to the ground as it leaves its mother's womb. The baby giraffe quickly recovers from this tumble and is up and walking around within an hour. Because the male giraffe leaves after mating, the job of raising and caring for the new baby giraffe falls to the mother.

Related Articles

Squirrel Mating and Gestation
How Does a Turkey Reproduce?
Facts About Baby Giraffes
How Do Elephants Mate?
The Differences Between Male & Female Blue Herons
Life Cycle of Sloths
How Do Elephants Give Birth?
Life Cycle of a Deer
How to Tell a Male From a Female Blue Jay
Life Cycle of a Centipede
Zebra Breeding Facts
How Does a Squirrel Reproduce?
How to Tell a Female From a Male Skunk
How Does a Bee Become a Queen Bee?
How Do Squirrels Mate?
What is the Life Cycle of a Kangaroo?
How Do Monkeys Communicate?
Competitive Relationships in Ecosystems
When Is Skunk Mating Season?

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!