Giraffe Conservation in Kenya

Over the last decade African giraffe populations have decreased by about 30 percent due to habitat encroachment, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, severe poaching, increasing human populations and human-wildlife conflicts. Kenya is home to three sub-species of giraffe, which is the most giraffe sub-species in a single African country. The three sub-species are the Rothschild, Reticulated, and Masai.

Rothschild Giraffes

They are the second most endangered giraffes. The total population is down to less than 700, in isolated areas of Kenya and Uganda. Ruma National Park in Nyanza Province has the single largest meta-population (130 individuals) in the country. Lake Nakuru National Park and Soysambu Conservancy have about 60 each, and Kigio Wildlife Conservancy has 32. The rest of the country’s preserves have less than 20 each.

Reticulated Giraffes

Only about 3,000 – 5,000 remain in the wild. A decade ago that number was estimated at 28,000. They are found in Northern Kenya, and Somalia.

Masai Giraffes

They are also in decline, but of the three are in a more stable state due to their larger numbers. Data is currently being collected, and more should be known about their status soon.

Kenya Wildlife Service, is the national agency in charge of wildlife. They have created a National Giraffe Conservation Task Force (NGCTF) to formulate the National Giraffe Conservation Strategy. Two meetings of the task force have taken place so far to discuss the key features of the strategy. A two-day retreat in July 2010 is taking place to further discuss challenges and risk factors for the three sub-species of giraffes.

The Giraffe Conservation Foundation wrote a summary of the conservation challenge, “For example, until very recently, the last major work undertaken in Nairobi National Park was in the 1960s, with a small study in the 1990s, and since then rapid human population growth has put significant pressure on the surrounding Kitengela communal area, the dispersal area of giraffe and other species in and out of the park.”

Image Credit: Public Domain

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aj E.

7:29AM PDT on Aug 2, 2012

thx.

August 2
send a green star

Nyack C.

5:17PM PDT on Sep 8, 2010

Thank you for the information

September 8
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Chinmayee J.

7:14AM PDT on Aug 16, 2010

Thanks for sharing, I had no idea that even the giraffes were disappearing - looks like we humans are going to make everything extinct, and in the end, when our planet is barren and infertile, we will go extinct too, miserably...

August 16
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Charmaine C.

2:09AM PDT on Aug 10, 2010

I've seen these creatures in the wild. They are wonderful and can run really fast. They epitomise the state of grace and gentleness. Re-education is the only way to stem the tide of carelessness humans are displaying to absolutely everything. There is nothing 'sacred' left on our planet. It is doubtful, unless something drastic is done now, that there will be animals and trees left for these children being taught now, to look after one day when they are grown up and this responsibility falls to them.

August 10
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Jean L.

2:30PM PDT on Aug 1, 2010

Loved it and it was very informative. The giraffes are really beautiful and graceful.

August 1
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Stephanie A.

8:16AM PDT on Jul 30, 2010

This is so special to see..Thank you for posting this. In all these years I didn't realize there were three different types of giraffes..
I will share this on my facebook pages. Stephanie Alt MS http://stephaniealt.com/

July 30
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Nellie K A.

7:38PM PDT on Jul 26, 2010

Need to visit Kennya and the National Parks.

July 26
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Lynn C.

6:55AM PDT on Jul 23, 2010

There is an animal sanctuary nearby and a friend and I go regularly to enjoy the interaction and support the people running it. One of the highlights is to feed a piece of carrot to the giraffe from your mouth to get a "kiss". Feels a bit like dermabrasion must and is such fun. By the way, their tongues are dark on the tips to keep them from getting sunburned while feeding in the tall branches of the trees in their homeland.