Young giraffes, especially those still reliant on their mothers for milk, will often be found in what’s known as “nursery groups.” When a group of female giraffes moves around to forage for food, they’ll often leave their calves together in these nursery groups. It’s a bit like a day-care system for giraffes.

A single adult female, often an older one, will usually stay behind to “supervise” and watch over the young while their mothers are away. This system allows the mothers to forage more efficiently without the need to constantly monitor their young. It also offers the calves some protection since there’s safety in numbers, and having an adult around can deter some potential predators.

These nursery groups are beneficial for the calves in a social sense. Interaction with peers at this young age can help in developing social skills and understanding hierarchy within the herd as they grow older.