Talk about a welcome to the world!

Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are some of my favorite animals and have been since I was little. There are a lot of fun facts about the worlds tallest land species, like how they only have 7 vertebrae - the same number as all other mammals (including humans). What I think is most amazing about this species is how they come into the world.

After a girl giraffe meets a boy giraffe and they fall in love and call the giraffe stork, the girl giraffe will spend around 15 months pregnant. Then one day, a baby giraffe will start popping out - literally, it just starts popping out of the mom. The mother will deliver her baby while standing to prevent squishing the baby. Just like all other mammals, the mom will push until gravity takes over and pulls the 1.8 meter tall (6 foot) baby out. The baby giraffe will enter the world in free fall.

The newborn will fall 1.5 meters (5 feet) to the ground - basically landing on its head. Then the embryonic sack will burst. At this point momma giraffe bends over and starts nudging at and licking her newborn to make sure it is alive. Mom will also start making the baby giraffe try to stand. The newborn will be able to stand and walk within the hour. In nature this helps protect the baby from getting attacked and eaten by predators.

Tell me that is not an intense way to enter the world!

Here is a great clip I found, but I will warn you, this is an actual giraffe birth. It is not that gross, but maybe not watch this while eating.