Page 23 - Kyalami_Issue 1_2022

NATURE

Our southern giraffe, the species found In 2015, there were 31 611. In 2020,
in Kruger Park whose south-eastern 45 402 – an increase of 44%. It is likely
region is thought to have the highest to remain in the category of ‘Vulnerable’
concentration of giraffe in the world, is – that is ‘Vulnerable to Extinction’.
distributed throughout most parts of
Southern Africa. They were decimated by The uniquely marked ‘ivy leaf’ pattern of
hunters and by loss of habitat throughout the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata)
the 19th and early 20th century. Today, is limited to the embattled region of
hundreds survive in scattered and North Africa: northern Kenya, southern
vulnerable groups, from South Africa, Somalia, and southern Ethiopia. Today,
Namibia and Zimbabwe, to Mozambique. their numbers and range are far from
accurately known and many are found
The other three subspecies include outside protected areas. Kenyan
the Kordofan giraffe (G. camelopardalis rangelands and the Laikipia Plateau
antiquorum) that live mostly up near remain their stronghold.
the Equator. They exist in fragmented
populations across East, Central and In 2015, the IUCN Red List assessed
West Africa. While their numbers remain their numbers at 8 661. In 2020, the
precariously low, their population trend is estimate was 15 985 – an increase of
South Africa’s giraffe currently positive, particularly in Chad, the 85%. But the dramatic jump in population
Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger. rather reflects an undercount in 2015
The good news is that the giraffe, the and more accurate surveys since.
world’s tallest living mammal, has In 2015, there were 4 776. In 2020,
strengthened its numbers over the there were 5 919 – a 24% increase. Just like the Supersaurus, the giraffe is
last few years. It is still ‘vulnerable’ a herbivore. But there the similarity ends
according to the International Union for But so vulnerable and scattered is the – the Supersaurus is categorised as a
the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Kordofan that the foundation says it must dinosaur (often referred to as a super
Red List. The list categorises animals remain on the IUCN’s list as ‘Critically lizard), whereas the giraffe is a mammal.
according to their likelihood to become Endangered’ – that’s one category above While a giraffe lives for an average of
extinct. There are nine categories – ‘Extinct in the Wild’. 26 years in the wild and sometimes over
Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least 30 in captivity, the Supersaurus’ lifespan
Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Then there’s the Masai giraffe (Giraffa was thought to be around 100 years.
Endangered, Critically Endangered, giraffa tippelskirchi), the second most
Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct (dead populous species, which is found Amazingly, although the giraffe has a
and gone like the dodo). throughout East Africa, including large long neck, it is too short for the giraffe’s
parts of southern Kenya and central and mouth to reach water, so it has to spread
Despite the upward trend in giraffe northern Tanzania, with a few in Zambia, its front legs and grossly bend its knees.
numbers – the animal is unique to where the Luangwa variety, once known
Africa – it is still in ‘urgent’ need of as Thornicroft’s giraffe, is now deemed When it does lower its head, one can
protection. This is according to the to be a part of the Masai species. It be forgiven for wondering why the
Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), has richer and quite startling chestnut pressure of the blood coursing down the
which advises the IUCN. patches divided by more vivid white lines thick artery in its neck does not burst
than the subspecies we get in southern its brain. In fact, it has a sponge-like
There are now just over 184 000 Africa. apparatus at the base of the brain to
giraffe left in the wild, yet it is today absorb the blood. Likewise, when the
more vulnerable to population collapse The increasing number of Masai giraffe giraffe suddenly raises its head it should,
than even the elephant whose African is partly due to more accurate counting logically, faint as the blood descends –
population is three times larger. as well as enlightened conservation but the sponge allows the blood to flow
measures. back down gently.
The latest taxonomic changes divide
the giraffe into four species.

Our South African giraffe, formally
named the ‘southern or reticulated
giraffe’ (Giraffa giraffa giraffa) is, by
far, the most plentiful.
The foundation, the world’s only
institution dedicated to monitoring the
status of the giraffe, says there were
97 562 giraffe in 2016. Today, there
are 117 173. That’s 20% growth.
“Most importantly,” the foundation
reported, “numbers are increasing
across all of the recently defined four
species. This is the first time such
trends have been reported in modern
history.”

The Supersaurus

Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 1 • 2022 21