Page 39 - SilverLakes_Issue 1_2022

NATURE

There are nine categories: Not Evaluated, precariously low, their population trend is Africa: northern Kenya, southern Somalia
Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near currently positive, particularly in Chad, the and southern Ethiopia. Today, their numbers
Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger. and range are far from accurately known
Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and many are found outside protected
and Extinct (dead and gone like the dodo). In 2015, there were 4 776 Kordofan giraffe. areas. Kenyan rangelands and the Laikipia
In 2020, there were 5 919 – a 24% increase. Plateau remain their stronghold.
Despite the upward trend in giraffe
numbers – the animal is unique to Africa – But so vulnerable and scattered is the In 2015, the IUCN Red List assessed their
it is still in urgent need of protection. This Kordofan that the foundation says it must numbers at 8 661. In 2020, the estimate
is according to the Giraffe Conservation remain on the IUCN’s list as Critically was 15 985 – an increase of 85%. But the
Foundation (GCF), which advises the IUCN. Endangered – that’s one category above dramatic jump in population rather reflects
Extinct in the Wild. an undercount in 2015 and more accurate
There are now just over 117 000 giraffe surveys since.
left in the wild, yet the species is today Then there’s the Masai giraffe (Giraffa
more vulnerable to population collapse giraffa tippelskirchi), the second most Just like the Supersaurus, the giraffe
than even the elephant, whose African populous species, which is found is a herbivore. But there the similarity
population is three times larger. throughout East Africa, including in large ends – the Supersaurus is categorised as
parts of southern Kenya and in central and a dinosaur (often referred to as a super
Recent taxonomic changes now divide the northern Tanzania, with a few in Zambia, lizard), whereas the giraffe is a mammal.
giraffe into four species. where the Luangwa variety, once known as While a giraffe lives for an average of 26
Thornicroft’s giraffe, is now deemed to be a years in the wild and sometimes for more
Our South African giraffe, formally named part of the Masai species. It has richer and than 30 years in captivity, the Supersaurus’
the “southern or reticulated giraffe” (Giraffa quite startling chestnut patches divided by lifespan is thought to be around 100 years.
giraffa giraffa) is by far the most plentiful. more vivid white lines than the subspecies
we get in Southern Africa. Amazingly, while the giraffe has a long
The GCF, the world’s only institution neck, it is too short for the giraffe’s mouth
dedicated to monitoring the status of the The increasing number of Masai giraffe is to reach water, so it has to spread its front
giraffe, says there were 97 562 giraffe in partly due to more accurate counting as legs and grossly bend its knees.
2016. Today, there are 117 173. That’s a well as enlightened conservation measures.
20% growth. When it does lower its head, one can be
In 2015, there were 31 611 Masai giraffe. forgiven for wondering why the pressure
“Most importantly,” the foundation In 2020, there were 45 402 – an increase of the blood coursing down the thick artery
reports, “numbers are increasing across of 44%. It is likely to remain in the category in its neck does not burst its brain. In fact,
all of the recently defined four species. of Vulnerable – that is, Vulnerable to it has a sponge-like apparatus at the base
This is the first time such trends have been Extinction. of the brain to absorb the blood. Likewise,
reported in recent history.” when the giraffe suddenly raises its head
The uniquely marked ‘ivy leaf’ pattern of it should, logically, faint as the blood
Our southern giraffe, the species found in the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) descends – but the sponge allows the
Kruger Park – its south-eastern region is is limited to the embattled region of North blood to flow back down gently.
thought to have the highest concentration
of giraffe in the world – is distributed
throughout most parts of Southern Africa.
These giraffe were decimated by hunters
and by loss of habitat throughout the 19th
and early 20th century. Today, hundreds
survive in scattered and vulnerable groups
in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and
Mozambique.

The other three subspecies include the
Kordofan giraffe (G. camelopardalis
antiquorum) that live mostly up near
the Equator. They exist in fragmented
populations across East, Central and
West Africa. While their numbers remain Masai giraffe

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