Giraffe Conservation Story

Stranded Rothschild's Giraffes

Conservation Story

Rothschild's Giraffe Rescue

How wildlife biologists and conservationists are rescuing Rothschild's giraffes from a shrinking island

NATURAL HISTORY

The Tallest Land Mammal

Giraffes often stand more than 15-ft tall.
While there is some debate, there are thought to be 9 types of giraffes.
Giraffes have 18-inch long tongues that are purple to prevent sunburn.
Giraffes each have a unique pattern that can be used by biologists to identify them.
Like most mammals, including humans, giraffes have 7 neck vertebrae.
Many animals on the savanna look to giraffes to spot danger.
Giraffes have horn-like structures on their heads called ossicones.
They can reach speeds of 35 mph!

So, What's the Problem?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) identifies four main threats to giraffe populations...

01

Habitat Loss

Human expansion is rapidly progressing throughout giraffe habitat resulting in native habitat being degraded or converted into agriculture.

02

Civil Unrest

Military operations and violence in giraffe territories have destroyed the landscape and threatened herds.

03

Poaching

Hunting for sport is still very common among giraffes. In fact, between 2006 and 2015, the US imported more than 20,000 carved giraffe bones.

04

Ecological Changes

Changes influenced by people and climate are altering giraffe habitat and degrading resources. This is what we are going to focus on today!

It is estimated that giraffe populations have declined 40% in the past 30 years.

Rothschild's giraffes are particularly threatened with an estimated 2,000 individuals remaining in Africa.

A Stranded Herd

Giraffes have not been seen in the Baringo area within the Rift Valley of eastern Africa in nearly 70 years until a herd of 8 Rothschild's giraffes was moved there in 2011. Biologists and local governments wanted to reintroduce giraffes into the region somewhere they could be monitored and protected, so the 8 giraffes were transported to Longcharo Peninsula on Lake Baringo in western Kenya.

In the past decade, increased rainfall and lakeshore degradation through unsustainable agricultural practices have caused massive flooding of the lakes in the Rift Valley. Lake Baringo has increased so much that the Longcharo Peninsula has turned into an island, stranding the giraffe herd along with warthogs, impalas, and ostriches. Flooding on the island was reported rising 6 inches per day and has destroyed homes, schools, and businesses on the mainland. With the island shrinking rapidly, biologists from Save Giraffes Now, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Northern Rangelands Trust got to work.

The Plan

Step One

For several years, biologists worked with community members and local governments to prepare a plan to save the giraffes. The plan included building a 6,700-acre sanctuary inside the Ruko Conservancy where the giraffes would live, along with constructing a barge to transport them from the shrinking island to the mainland. The barge was built to float on buoyant drums that support a platform covered in dirt and large barriers to contain the giraffes. 

Step Two

Prior to the transport, members of the Ruko Conservancy worked with the giraffes to get them comfortable with the barge by using their favorite treats, mangos. They also moved the other, less challenging species to the mainland in September 2020.

Step Three

The rescue mission for the giraffes began in early December 2020. Because of the rains and plentiful food, the giraffes were not able to be coaxed onto the platform with treats. Instead, they had to be tranquilized so biologists could attach a blindfold, ear covers, and ropes to guide the giraffes to the barge. Because of giraffes' complex anatomy, they had to work quickly.

Step Four

In early December 2020, one of the adult females, Asiwa, was successfully roped and guided to the barge. Asiwa and many biologists were then pulled using a small boat more than two hours to the mainland where she was able to run free onto the 44,000-acre Ruko Conservancy.

Step Five

The following day, a second female giraffe named Pasaka was also successfully rescued from the shrinking island and transported to her new home.

What Now?

Six giraffes still remain on the rapidly shrinking island of Longcharo. With the incredible success of transporting the first two giraffes, the remaining six are scheduled to be transported by the end of January 2021.

Once the eight giraffes arrive at the conservancy and settle into their new home, there is hope that another population of Rothschild's giraffes will come join them. If these populations breed, it will increase population size and genetic diversity!

Biologists are hopeful that with the introduction of giraffes into the Ruko Conservancy that populations will be restored in the western Rift Valley for the first time in 70 years.

You Can Help Giraffes

Get to Know Giraffes

Visiting your local AZA accredited zoo means a portion of your visit is going to conservation in the wild! Getting to know giraffes in real life can help you appreciate and respect them and turn you into a giraffe advocate!

Shop Local

Giraffe habitat is quickly being taken over by agriculture. You can help save giraffes and many other species by shopping local and researching where the ingredients in your products are from.

Donate

Donations to organizations like Save Giraffes Now or the Giraffe Conservation Foundation will help support monitoring, re-wildling projects, antipoaching units, and education in local communities.

Keep Learning!

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