In the wild, the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) population is estimated to be just under 6,000 individuals, with numbers gradually recovering in critical areas. However, this makes them one of the most threatened large mammal species in the world.
Three subspecies of the northern giraffe can be found across Western, Central, and East Africa.
The northern giraffe has large, rectangular, chestnut-brown patches surrounded by an off-white, creamy color. Coloration can vary from darker to a very light appearance. A distinct feature of all northern giraffe is the absence of markings on their lower legs, which is often described as ‘white socks’.
Kordofan giraffe
Inhabiting regions marked by political instability and conflict, the Kordofan giraffe (G. c. antiquorum) occurs in southern Chad, northern Central African Republic, northern Cameroon, north-western Democratic Republic of Congo, and western South Sudan. As few as 2,300 individuals remain in the wild. Their decline has exceeded over 80% over the past three and a half decades, which has led to their classification as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 20218.
Nubian giraffe
The Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis) holds the distinction of being the first recorded specimen of giraffe, thus becoming the ‘nominate’ subspecies. This designation led to the use of the same Latin subspecific name as the original species. Only 3,000 Nubian giraffe remain in the wild, and include the genetically and morphologically identical Rothschild’s giraffe, which was previously recognized as a separate subspecies. The Nubian giraffe occurs across western Ethiopia, central and western Kenya, eastern South Sudan and Uganda. In Kenya, the majority of Nubian giraffe live outside their natural range after targeted conservation efforts have led to establishing viable populations in key areas of the country.
Obtaining precise information about the small and fragmented populations in Ethiopia and South Sudan remains challenging, and with a known poaching risk, their numbers are potentially lower than thought. In 2018 the Nubian giraffe was added to the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered due to an estimated 95% decline in the previous three decades.
West African giraffe
In the early 20th century, West African giraffe (G. c. peralta) roamed from Nigeria to Senegal, but their population plummeted, leaving only 49 individuals in Niger by the mid-1990s. Today, thanks to formal protection by the Niger government and conservation partners, their numbers have rebounded to over 600. Nevertheless, concerns persist due to their coexistence with people and livestock on communal land (‘Giraffe Zone’) near the Nigerien capital Niamey. Ongoing loss, fragmentation and degradation of their habitat pose some of the greatest threats.
Between 2018-22, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and partners in support of the Niger government translocated twelve West African giraffe to the Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve. This groundbreaking effort has helped to establish the first-ever satellite population of West African giraffe in an effort to boost their range and numbers.
