Botswana is home to southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), however there appears to be a geographic division within the country regarding the two subspecies: the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and western private farms are home to Angolan giraffe (G. g. angolensis), whilst South African giraffe (G. g. giraffa) are found in the northern and eastern regions, including Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve, and the Okavango Delta.
Botswana’s “cryptic rift valley” underscores our limited understanding of speciation and its underlying mechanisms. In this instance, it’s likely related to a significant period of aridity during a Pleistocene glacial period, leading to geographically isolated giraffe populations with reduced gene flow. The potential natural mix of both subspecies in Botswana would be unique.
In collaboration with our local partners, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Natural Selection, Okavango Research Institute, and Mashatu, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation continues to collect population and genetic data from all key populations in Botswana to better understand, monitor, and resolve any questions definitively. Simultaneously, we are exploring other giraffe conservation opportunities in the country by supporting students and working with other partners to better understand the conservation status and spatial movements of giraffe in the country.
