By Josie December 14th, 2023
The circle of life in the wild is both beautiful and brutal.
The video opens with a touching scene: a newborn giraffe taking its first steps under the watchful eye of its mother.
Within hours, the vulnerability of the infant attracts the attention of two lions. The two predators make their attack, forcing the mother giraffe to flee and leaving the baby to an unfortunate fate.
In the harsh environment of the African savannah, only about 50% of these baby giraffes survive their first year!
Giraffe mothers are fiercely protective, often fending off predators with powerful kicks that can be lethal.
Additionally, giraffes are social animals, and the herd often helps in protecting the calves.
They can assess the sound of water and strategically place materials to stop the flow.
As heartbreaking as the video from Shamwari Private Game Reserve is, it’s the circle of life – lions need to eat too!