Animals with the longest gestation periods

There are nine subspecies of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) that live in numerous pockets of Africa. They can be found in areas of Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in forests, savannahs, and shrublands. Giraffes are best known for their uniquely long necks, which help them reach food that's too high up for other ground-dwelling species.

Unfortunately, giraffes are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, with a decreasing population of around 68,293 individuals. According to observations, their numbers have declined by 36% to 40% over the past three generations, primarily due to habitat loss, civil unrest, and illegal hunting.

Giraffes carry their young in their wombs for around 15 months and are famous for giving birth while standing up. Because of their long legs, this means calves drop around five feet. Despite this, they can stand up within half an hour and run within 10. They are born around two metres (six feet) tall and weigh 100 kilograms (220 pounds).

11. Donkeys

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are domesticated animals that are descended from the African wild ass (Equus africanus). Humans have been using donkeys to carry heavy loads since 4,000 BCE. Different donkey breeds can be found all over the world, with overall numbers surpassing 50 million.

As they're domestic animals, donkeys are not assessed by the IUCN. However, their ancestor, the African wild ass, is unfortunately critically endangered. There are thought to be only 23 to 200 mature individuals left in one small pocket of Ethiopia.

Donkeys stay pregnant for around 14 months, outdoing their distant relatives-horses-despite their smaller size. Foals stand up almost as soon as they're born and start to search for their mother's udders. The first time they nurse is very important because the milk is full of essential antibodies the foals need to grow.

12. Manatees

Also known as sea cows, manatees (genus Trichechus) are large aquatic mammals that weigh up to 440 kilograms (1,300 pounds). Despite never leaving the water, they don't have the breath-holding capacities of some other aquatic animals and usually come up to breathe every three or four minutes. Different species live in different areas of the world, including the east coast of North and South America, the Amazon River, and the west coast of Africa.

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), and the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) are all listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Because they live in rivers and coastal waters, they're usually within close range of humans and are threatened by boats, agriculture, fishing, and pollution.

After around 13 months of gestation, manatees give birth to their single pup underwater and then guide them to the surface to breathe. The young drink milk from the mother, whose teats are located on the base of her flippers. Mother and calf usually stay together for up to two years.

13. Tapirs

A relative of the rhino, tapirs (Tapirus) are a rare family of mammals found in forests of Indonesia, Thailand, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Panama. They have a prehensile nose that looks like a short trunk, which they can use to grab leaves or as a snorkel while swimming.

There are four species of tapir: the Malay tapir (Tapirus indicus), mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque), lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) and Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii).

The lowland tapir is listed by the IUCN as vulnerable, and the other three species are all endangered. Although they live in different places, they face similar threats, including agricultural development, hunting, and human intrusion.

Tapirs have a long gestation period of around 13 to 14 months and give birth to one infant while standing up. The young are born with a distinctive coat made up of white spots and stripes, which helps to keep them hidden. By the time they are six months old, they develop their adult coat, which differs in colour between species. Offspring usually stay with their mothers for 12 to 18 months.

14. Llamas

Llamas (Lama glama) are a domesticated species farmed for wool and used as a pack animal. They're found in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Argentina. They're known for their spitting habits and long eyelashes that help to keep sand out of their eyes.

Since they're a domesticated species, they're not assessed by the IUCN. However, the species they're descended from, Lama guanicoe, is listed as least concern and has a population of at least one million individuals in South America.

Llamas stay pregnant for around 11 months and give birth to one baby, called a cria. Its coat can vary from solid white, black, or brown to white with black or brown markings.