The GCF team has hit 2022 running with lots of exciting plans for giraffe conservation throughout Africa.
After a well-deserved break over the festive season, there was no easing into the year and so far, our KEEP team in Namibia has already hosted over 500 primary school students for a fun-filled field day. In Kenya, together with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Wildlife Research and Training Institute and other partners, the GCF team has helped facilitate range committee meetings for all three giraffe species that occur in the country. Currently, there are giraffe surveys underway in Chad, Uganda and Namibia, a tagging operation in Mozambique and our team is getting ready for the most ambitious giraffe conservation translocations ever attempted – and these are just a few of the activities we are busy with!
Take a moment to catch up with some of our recent activities in more detail below and make sure to follow us on social media to keep up-to-date with what is going on in giraffe conservation in Africa this year.
In case you missed it
The Longest Wild Giraffe Translocation ever undertaken by road!
In October 2021, ten South African giraffe made the historic trip from South Africa to Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi, where they joined the group of 13 giraffe we introduced in 2018. We are pleased to report that all giraffe have settled well into their new home, where they are closely monitored by the local ranger team.
Watch this short video to follow the longest wild giraffe translocation ever undertaken by road.
Saving Nubian Giraffe
National Giraffe Conservation Strategy & Action Plan for Uganda
We are very proud of the incredible work of the UWA/GCF Mobile Vet team in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. Since 2019 the team has de-snared and saved over 420 animals including 291 critically endangered Nubian giraffe. They further removed over 5,660 wire snares from the park before they could trap any wildlife. 26 Ugandans have been trained as part of this work.
Sharing skills and knowledge is vital for sustainable and long-term conservation success.
In other news from Murchison Falls National Park: our GCF team has recently completed the 8th year of surveying the largest known population of critically endangered Nubian giraffe. During the month-long survey the team collected the most data ever recorded during a single survey, documenting over 1,700 giraffe encounters! These surveys provide essential information on population dynamics and habitat use. This information can then be used to inform important giraffe conservation decisions.
Environmental Education
Khomas Environmental Education Programme
Our Khomas Environmental Education Programme (KEEP) team continues to make us proud! Despite temporary school closures in 2021, we hosted over 2,000 students and 85 teachers for a fun and educational day in the field. In addition, our team reached students from around the world via Zoom and through the eight-part environmental education series that was aired Africa-wide on DSTV.
The new school year has now started in Namibia and our KEEP team has never been busier. For many children their KEEP excursion is the first time ever to see giraffe or any other wildlife. What a great way to learn more about these beautiful animals and to become passionate about their conservation.
21 June 2022
World Giraffe Day is coming!
What are your plans for WGD 2022? Are you celebrating with us? Check on our website for ideas to #StandTallForGiraffe. Help us raise awareness for giraffe and smash our US$250,000 fundraising target for our ambitious plans of bringing giraffe back to Mozambique! In a series of translocations we are planning to move 350 giraffe to re-establish their historic range in the country.
