Page 23 - FWG_Issue 1_Feb_2022

Nature

The Supersaurus

There are now just over 117 000 giraffe left in the wild, yet it is today The uniquely marked ‘ivy leaf’ pattern of the reticulated giraffe
more vulnerable to population collapse than even the elephant (Giraffa reticulata) is limited to the embattled region of North Africa:
whose African population is three times larger. northern Kenya, southern Somalia, and southern Ethiopia. Today,
their numbers and range are far from accurately known and many
The latest taxonomic changes divide the giraffe into four species. are outside protected areas. Kenyan rangelands and the Laikipia
Plateau remain their stronghold.
Our South African giraffe, formally named the ‘southern or
reticulated giraffe’ (Giraffa giraffa giraffa) is, by far, the most plentiful. In 2015, the IUCN Red List assessed their numbers at 8 661. In 2020,
The foundation, the world’s only institution dedicated to monitoring the estimate was 15 985 – an increase of 85%. But the dramatic
the status of the giraffe, says there were 97 562 giraffe in 2016. jump in population rather reflects an undercount in 2015 and more
Today, there are 117 173. That’s a 20% growth. accurate surveys since.

“Most importantly,” the foundation reported, “numbers are Just like the Supersaurus, the giraffe is a herbivore. But there the
increasing across all of the recently defined four species. This is the similarity ends – the Supersaurus is categorised as a dinosaur (often
first time such trends have been reported in modern history.” referred to as a super lizard), whereas the giraffe is a mammal. While
a giraffe lives for an average of 26 years in the wild and sometimes
Our southern giraffe, the species found in Kruger Park whose over 30 in captivity, the Supersaurus’ lifespan was thought to be
south-eastern region is thought to have the highest concentration around 100 years.
of giraffe in the world, is distributed throughout most parts of
Southern Africa. They were decimated by hunters and by loss Amazingly, although the giraffe has a long neck, it is too short for
of habitat throughout the 19th and early 20th century. Today, the giraffe’s mouth to reach water, so it has to spread its front legs
hundreds survive in scattered and vulnerable groups, from South and grossly bend its knees.
Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, to Mozambique.
When it does lower its head, one can be forgiven for wondering
The other three subspecies include the Kordofan giraffe why the pressure of the blood coursing down the thick artery
(G. camelopardalis antiquorum) that live mostly up near the Equator. in its neck does not burst its brain. In fact, it has a sponge-like
They exist in fragmented populations across East, Central and apparatus at the base of the brain to absorb the blood. Likewise,
West Africa. While their numbers remain precariously low, their when the giraffe suddenly raises its head it should, logically,
population trend is currently positive, particularly in Chad, the faint as the blood descends – but the sponge allows the blood
Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger. to flow back down gently.

In 2015, there were 4 776. In 2020, there were 5 919 – a 24% increase.

But so vulnerable and scattered is the Kordofan that the foundation
says it must remain on the IUCN’s list as ‘Critically Endangered’ –
that’s one category above ‘Extinct in the Wild’.

Then there’s the Masai giraffe (Giraffa giraffa tippelskirchi), the
second most populous species, which is found throughout East
Africa, including large parts of southern Kenya and central and
northern Tanzania, with a few in Zambia, where the Luangwa
variety, once known as Thornicroft’s giraffe, is now deemed to be a
part of the Masai species. It has richer and quite startling chestnut
patches divided by more vivid white lines than the subspecies we
get in southern Africa.

The increasing number of Masai giraffe is partly due to more
accurate counting as well as enlightened conservation measures.

In 2015, there were 31 611. In 2020, 45 402 – an increase of 44%. It
is likely to remain in the category of ‘Vulnerable’ – that is ‘Vulnerable South Africa’s giraffe
to Extinction’.

Fourways Gardens • 21 • February 2022