The Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) was once the most numerous giraffe species, however, today only approximately 45,400 individuals remain in their natural habitats.
Recent scientific investigations by Giraffe Conservation Foundation and partners have revealed the existence of two distinct subspecies of Masai giraffe.
The Masai giraffe is distinguishable from other species for its noticeably darker coloration. Its patches, vine leaf-shaped with jagged edges, are large and dark brown, outlined by a creamy-brown hue that extends down their lower legs.
Masai giraffe
The Masai giraffe (G. t. tippelskirchi) has long been the most populous giraffe with an estimated 71,000 individuals three and a half decades ago, and now reduced to just over 44,750 in the wild. These giraffe inhabit central and southern Kenya and occur throughout Tanzania. Their presence in Akagera National Park, Rwanda, is the result of a conservation translocation from Kenya in the mid-1990s, and now the population is flourishing at over 110 individuals.
Ongoing reports of bushmeat poaching and habitat loss and fragmentation pose a continuing threat to the Masai giraffe population. However, recent estimates indicate that they are exhibiting a slow but steady rebound. The IUCN Red List assessment in 2018 classified the Masai giraffe as Endangered due to a significant overall decline of approximately 50% in the past thirty years. However, most recently, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s updated evaluation reveals a positive trajectory for these giraffe over the last five years.
Luangwa giraffe
In the South Luangwa Valley of eastern Zambia, the Luangwa giraffe (G. t. thornicrofti), formerly known as Thornicroft’s giraffe, exist as an isolated population. In 2018, the IUCN Red List classified them as Vulnerable due to their low, yet stable numbers (~650 individuals) and limited occurrence in just one geographic region. However, recent positive trends indicate a gradual expansion of their range by more than a third and numbers of more than 800 individuals.
