Umbilical cord stump retention and age estimation of newborn giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)
The umbilical cord stump is a conspicuous characteristic used to identify recently born giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) (Foster & Dagg, 1972; Langman, 1977; Leuthold & Leuthold, 1978; Pratt & Anderson, 1979; Pellew, 1981; Dagg & Foster, 1982). However, there is surprising disagreement over the length of time that the umbilical stump remains attached, with reports varying from about 4 weeks (Pellew, 1981; Serengeti, Tanzania: subsp. tippelskirchi) to 6 weeks (Leuthold & Leuthold, 1978; Tsavo East, Kenya: subsp. tippelskirchi) to 60 days