The last remaining population of Kordofan giraffe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) occurs in Garamaba National Park.
Nestled in the far north-eastern corner of the country, Garamba National Park (NP) was first established in 1938 by virtue of its uniqueness as one of the first national parks in Africa. After initial conservation successes, the park’s infamy has sadly increased through losing the last northern white rhino and rebel insurgents, in particular by the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Over the last few decades the impact of poaching has decimated the park’s wildlife population, in particular by rebel groups who often use the sale of wildlife products to support their illegal activities.
For the past five years, GCF has supported African Parks Network and DRC’s wildlife authority ICCN in their efforts to save this last population of giraffe in DRC. Increased understanding of population dynamics, their habitat use and imminent threats, implementing giraffe conservation monitoring and management activities, as well as supporting anti-poaching efforts, have been at the centre of these activities.
With increased conservation efforts, giraffe numbers in the park and surrounding areas number are slowly increasing and were estimated at 55 individuals in April 2019. It is therefore more important than ever to support this critical giraffe conservation initiative before giraffe become extinct in DRC.
