Experts meet to discuss sharp decline of giraffe numbers in Africa

PHOTO | FILE Rothschild giraffes at the Ruma national park in Homa-Bay county.

What you need to know:

  • Giraffe Conservation Foundation chairman Julian Fennessy cited human encroachment on giraffe habitats as one of the threats to the survival of the world’s biggest ruminant
  • The experts identified agriculture, settlement and destruction of giraffe habitats by pastoralists as some of the major factors reducing giraffe populations

Conservation experts have raised the alarm over the fast-declining population of giraffes in Africa.

The scientists and wildlife managers on Tuesday said the world’s tallest animal would become extinct in the next few decades if the trend is not checked.

Researchers on giraffes drawn from all over the continent, who are attending a conference on giraffes in Nairobi, pointed out that threats to the animals’ survival had been largely ignored.

Giraffe Conservation Foundation chairman Julian Fennessy, who together with Kenya Wildlife Service have convened the meet, cited human encroachment on giraffe habitats as one of the threats to the survival of the world’s biggest ruminant.

“Giraffes were estimated to exceed 140,000 in Africa by 1998 but this has dropped to fewer than 80,000 individuals, according to our assessment in 2012,” he said.
Kenya Wildlife Service director William Kiprono challenged the experts to come up with policies to enhance conservation of the animals.

“Giraffes are facing increasing pressures that have impacted on their numbers and distribution in Kenya and elsewhere across the continent,” he said.

The experts identified agriculture, settlement and destruction of giraffe habitats by pastoralists as some of the major factors reducing giraffe populations.

CONSERVATION STRATEGY

Mr Kiprono said Kenya had already drafted a national giraffe conservation strategy that would help the country mitigate the threats and boost their numbers.

“This is an enormous task, but Kenya is committed to ensuring that all its three sub-species of giraffes are conserved for now and into the future,” he said.

There are nine species of giraffe and Kenya is the only African country that has three sub-species, giving it the unique heritage and legacy as the world’s centre for giraffe diversity.

The three species are Reticulated Giraffe found in North Eastern, the Rothschild species found in North Rift and the Masai giraffe, which is common in Nairobi National Park and parts of Kajiado County.