Together with our partner San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, GCF has supported Wild Me in the development of an exciting online giraffe conservation tool: GiraffeSpotter – Wildbook for Giraffe
GiraffeSpotter is a photo-identification database of giraffe encounters and individually catalogued giraffe in the wild.
The database is populated and maintained by giraffe conservationists, researchers and managers, who collect and analyse giraffe sighting data in order to learn more about population numbers and their distribution.)
GiraffeSpotter – Wildbook for Giraffe uses photos of the patterns of giraffe on both sides of their body and neck (with a focus on their right side) to distinguish between individual animals. Cutting-edge software supports rapid identification using pattern recognition and photo management tools. You, too, can assist with giraffe conservation research by submitting photos and sighting data. The information will be used in mark-recapture studies to help with the Africa-wide conservation of these iconic animals. To date, we have focused on its development and initial trial phase with giraffe photos from northern Kenya, Uganda and Namibia. We invite all partners to help us fill the gaps across Africa to better understand numbers and distribution of all giraffe species.
