Short Communication

Concurrent pregnancy and lactation in wild giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)

Published in: African Zoology
Volume 50 , issue 4 , 2015 , pages: 331–334

DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2015.1120643

Author(s): Francois Deacon Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal, Wildlife, and Grassland Sciences, South Africa , Pierre J Nel Free State Department of Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, South Africa , Fred B Bercovitch Primate Research Institute and Wildlife Research Center, Japan

Keywords: conception , gestation , giraffe , lactation , nutritional stress , reproductive strategies

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Abstract

Lactation boosts reproductive costs by depleting maternal condition and delaying subsequent conception. However, some evidence suggests that giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) have evolved a mechanism to minimise the time allocated to suckling-induced suppression of ovulation. Here, we show for the first time that wild giraffe cows are impregnated while nursing a young calf. We suggest that a trio of traits (non-seasonal breeding, slow embryonic development and rapid calf growth) have promoted this unusual and flexible female reproductive strategy.

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