In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Garamba National Park is home to the last remaining population of Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), a subspecies of the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). Established in 1938 as one of Africa’s first national parks, Garamba stood out for its uniqueness. However, its reputation has been marred by the activities of rebel insurgents (Lord’s Resistance Army) resulting in the loss of the last northern white rhino.
Over the past few decades, poaching has decimated the park’s wildlife, as rebel groups often resort to selling wildlife products to fund their illegal activities. Recognizing the dire situation, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation has collaborated with African Parks and DRC’s wildlife authority, ICCN, since 2016 to save the last natural giraffe population in the country.
Our collaborative efforts have focused on gaining a deeper understanding of population dynamics, habitat use, and immediate threats. The team of African Parks, with the support of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, implements conservation monitoring and management activities through regular aerial and vehicle-based surveys to monitor all individually-identified giraffe.
The targeted giraffe conservation efforts have resulted in Kordofan giraffe numbers in the park and surrounding areas gradually increasing to over 90 giraffe. This positive trend underscores the importance of continued support for this crucial giraffe conservation initiative, which is slowly transforming into a remarkable success story.
