African giraffe count quadruples in new study
WASHINGTON, Aug 21: A new scientific analysis has redefined giraffe taxonomy in Africa, identifying four distinct species: Northern, reticulated, Masai, and Southern giraffes. Previously, all giraffes were considered a single species. The change, led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is based on over a decade of research involving genetic data and anatomical studies, such as differences in skull shape.
Michael Brown, an IUCN researcher in Namibia who led the assessment, said the reclassification is critical because each species faces different threats and has varying population sizes. “When you lump giraffes all together, it muddies the narrative,” he explained. Northern giraffes, found in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, are particularly endangered due to political instability and poaching. Masai giraffes, native to Kenya and Tanzania, are threatened by habitat loss as savannas are converted into agricultural land and cattle pastures.
The recognition of four separate species allows conservationists to better tailor strategies to each population’s needs. Duke University ecologist Stuart Pimm, who was not involved in the study, called the decision “absolutely the right one” and “long overdue.”
The research drew on more than 2,000 genetic samples collected from across Africa. Stephanie Fennessy of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, who contributed to the study, noted that technological advances have brought the cost of genome sequencing down from tens of thousands of dollars to around $100, making such research more accessible to conservation groups.
Population estimates from the foundation highlight major disparities. The Northern giraffe is the most endangered, with only around 7,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Reticulated giraffes number about 21,000, Masai giraffes around 44,000, and Southern giraffes are the most numerous, with an estimated 69,000.
Fennessy emphasized the conservation implications of the findings: “If not all giraffes are the same, then we have to protect them individually.” The reclassification underscores the importance of species-specific conservation strategies to safeguard the future of giraffes, one of Africa’s most iconic animals. (AP)