Giraffe calves are raised together with other young animals in a kind of kindergarten. A female giraffe from the herd acts as the "kindergarten teacher" and watches over the calves while the other mothers search for food. When predators approach, she immediately raises the alarm. The female giraffes then position themselves protectively in front of their babies and kick at the attackers. At about four months old, the young ones begin to pull leaves from trees and eat, but they are still nursed by their mothers until the ninth month of life. Interesting fact: Newborn giraffe calves are already 180 centimeters tall - as tall as an adult man.