The Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis), a subspecies of the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), is among the most highly threatened mammals found in Uganda. Once present throughout western Kenya, western Ethiopia, southern South Sudan, and Uganda, the Nubian giraffe has seen a drastic reduction in its natural range.
In 2010, only two populations of Nubian giraffe, then known as Rothschild’s giraffe, remained in Uganda in Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks, both with precariously low numbers. Only an estimated less than 300 individuals remained in the country and as a result Nubian giraffe were listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2010. In response to this precarious situation, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation has actively engaged in Nubian giraffe conservation efforts in Uganda since 2013.
The long-term cooperation between the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), guided by a Memorandum of Understanding, has resulted in the increase of Nubian giraffe numbers and (re)expansion of available habitat across the country. Together, we have developed a comprehensive giraffe conservation program in Uganda based on solid science, which has led to the current population estimated at over 2,400 individuals. Despite this growth, the need for continuous monitoring to ensure their long-term survival remains crucial.
Together with Uganda’s Makerere University, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in partnership with UWA continues our long-term monitoring of the country’s Nubian giraffe population which started in 2013. Detailed assessments help to understand their numbers, distribution, and ecology, and monitor closely for new, emerging threats.
To enhance the viability of Nubian giraffe in Uganda, expanding their range by establishing viable satellite populations has been prioritized. Conservation translocations are an important tool in the conservation toolbox. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation has provided technical, financial and hand-on support to Nubian giraffe translocations in Uganda from the onset.
Murchison Falls National Park, notably its northern part, is home to the largest population of Nubian giraffe in the wild, estimated at around 2,250 individuals. In 2016-17, a total of 37 Nubian giraffe were translocated over the Nile River to the southern bank in Operation Twiga I & II. Two major threats in Murchison Falls National Park include oil extraction and poaching, the latter primarily through the use of snares. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation and UWA worked collaboratively to combat poaching through monitoring and anti-poaching efforts with the team training several Ugandan wildlife veterinarians, rangers, and the country’s game capture team to fight this important battle locally.
In Kidepo Valley National Park, the Nubian giraffe population faced a significant decline in the 1990s, with only three individuals remaining. Since then, and with an initial translocation in the late 1990s from Kenya, the population has shown slow growth, but threats such as insecurity and poaching persisted. In 2018, 14 giraffe were translocated from Murchison Falls National Park to boost the population, and currently the population is estimated at over 80 Nubian giraffe.
Lake Mburo National Park had no giraffe for over 100 years, likely due to a combination of poaching, disease and other anthropogenic factors. Following an assessment by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, in 2015 UWA (re)introduced 15 Nubian giraffe from Murchison Falls National Park, hoping to restore their presence in the landscape. Since then, the population has shown promising growth and is estimated at over 50 individuals with no issues experienced to date.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, once home to Uganda’s largest population of critically endangered Nubian giraffe, had lost all giraffe by the 1990s. Together with UWA, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation facilitated the translocations of 30 Nubian giraffe from Murchison Falls National Park in 2019-20 . Our regular monitoring and collaboration with Space for Giants indicate that the population is prospering in their new home and stands at 35 individuals.
Nubian giraffe now occur in five different locations in Uganda thanks to targeted conservation translocations. The collective efforts of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and other partners have resulted in a short-term conservation success story for Nubian giraffe, supported in part by the establishment of the first-ever National Giraffe Conservation Strategy & Action Plan for Uganda (2020-2030).
