The monitoring of the desert-dwelling Angolan giraffe (Giraffa giraffa angolensis) in North-west Namibia by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation is the longest running giraffe conservation research program ever, and marks the beginnings of our organization. Remarkably, this program stands as the first long-term detailed ecological monitoring efforts for giraffe in all of Africa.
North-western Namibia represents one of the few remaining wildernesses in Africa, and this is where it all started in the late 1990s. Understanding how these specially adapted giraffe survive in such a harsh, arid and remote environment is a main aim of the program that gathers, compiles, and widely shares scientific and popular information. The knowledge that is accumulated in the 30,000 sqkm study area, supports conservation and management efforts for the Angolan giraffe as well as other giraffe species throughout Africa. It benefits local and international stakeholders including governments, NGOs, communal conservancies, and other partners.
Over the years the Giraffe Conservation Foundation has broadened our program throughout the country, working in partnership with academia, local landowners, conservancies, and tourism partners. In 2020 the Giraffe Conservation Foundation established the Etosha Heights Conservation Centre on a private reserve adjacent to the iconic Etosha National Park. The program goes beyond giraffe and delves into the impact of various wildlife land use types, encompassing National Parks, Private Reserves, commercial game farms, and communal conservancies, on biodiversity and ecological productivity in a vast area of approximately 2 million hectares within the Greater Etosha South-West Landscape.
As part of a broader Namibian countrywide initiative, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation collaborates closely with communal and commercial conservancies, local farmers, government officials, NGOs and researchers to develop a better understanding of giraffe in the country. While most giraffe in Namibia are Angolan giraffe, a small remnant population of South African giraffe (G. g. giraffa) can be found in Bwabwata National Park. Namibia is considered a giraffe conservation success story with an increasing giraffe population in private, communal and public land. Historically, giraffe roamed freely throughout the country evidenced by rock engravings created by the indigenous San people.
The Giraffe Conservation Foundation has developed the most comprehensive database of Angolan giraffe numbers, range and genetics, working locally with partners to provide recommendations on their management. From community conservancy translocations to environmental education, and training to the longest running survey program, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation is at the forefront of the Angolan giraffe conservation in Namibia.
