If you have been following us for a while you might remember the major giraffe translocation in 2021 in which we rescued nine Rothschild’s giraffe off an island in Lake Baringo, Kenya and floated them across the lake in a barge to a newly-constructed 4,500 acre giraffe sanctuary at Ruko Conservancy. Well, we have another exciting update from Ruko Conservancy!
Just last week, Save Giraffes Now and our amazing partners, notably Kenya Wildlife Service, Ruko Community Conservancy and Northern Rangelands Trust, completed the monumental challenge of translocating another seven Rothschild’s giraffe to Ruko Conservancy. Below is a press release with more information regarding the incredible operation which was made possible by your help.
A huge thank you to all of our partners and supporters for your continued generosity. We truly couldn’t do it without you.
Warmest regards,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2024
Highly-endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe moved to the Ruko Conservancy in Kenya
Ruko Conservancy made international news in early 2021 when nine highly-endangered Rothschild’s (aka Nubian) giraffe were rescued off an island in Lake Baringo, Kenya and floated across the lake in a barge to safety in a newly-constructed 4,500 acre giraffe sanctuary at the Ruko Conservancy. See CNN news link: Giraffes are stuck on a flooding island. But the rescues have begun.
Those rescued giraffe have been having babies at Ruko, and their population has more than doubled in the large sanctuary, now totaling 19 Rothschild’s giraffe, one of the most endangered species of giraffe in the world. Only 800 of these giraffe remain in Kenya and only 2,000 total in all of Africa. Because this tower of giraffe only has one mature male, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) approved moving more Rothschild’s giraffe to Ruko to expand the gene pool. After extensive analysis and planning, KWS, the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and Save Giraffes Now (SGN) created a plan to move seven more giraffe from a private ranch near Eldoret, Kenya to the Ruko Conservancy.
Moving giraffe is complicated. Since the giraffe are wild and can run at speeds up to 50 km/hour, a team of rangers and veterinarians must first dart a giraffe with a tranquilizer. While the giraffe is subdued, they must quickly revive the giraffe and attach some guiding ropes. Once back on its feet, the rangers walk the giraffe on to a truck, which will then transport the giraffe to a nearby fenced-in holding area (known as a “boma”).
Above: KWS rangers and vets chasing the giraffe and preparing to dart one of them with a tranquilizer.
Photo credit: Northern Rangelands Trust / Jeff DeKock
Above: KWS personnel guiding a giraffe to a truck cart to be taken to the nearby boma.
Photo credit: Northern Rangelands Trust / Jeff DeKock
The giraffe remain in the boma for approximately 10 days in order to receive medical treatment and acclimatize to the rangers and the temporary confinement. After that stage, the giraffe are ready to be moved. Three to four are then guided on to the transport truck
and driven the 350 kilometers (dependent on route used) from Eldoret to the Ruko Conservancy.
This drive can take several hours, as the rangers have to stop occasionally to use wooden poles to manually lift electric lines that are too low for the 17-foot-tall giraffe. In addition, the truck must drive quite slowly to avoid any sudden stops or turns. As the “giraffe convoy” passes through towns and villages on the way to Ruko, the giraffe are often greeted with affection and curiosity by Kenyan citizens along the road. Most of these onlookers have never seen a giraffe translocation in their lives.
Above: Rothschild’s Giraffe on transport truck awaiting departure to Ruko. Photo credit: Save Giraffes Now
At the Ruko sanctuary, the ranger team has a dirt ramp constructed so the giraffe can easily run off the truck and back into the “wild”.
Above: The giraffe enter the giraffe sanctuary at the Ruko Conservancy. Photo Credit: Northern Rangelands Trust / Adnan Yakub
As shown above, upon the giraffe’s arrival, they are driven to the entrance of the giraffe sanctuary and greeted by the Ruko community and several officials and dignitaries. After the truck parks at the dirt ramp, the rear gate is opened, and the giraffe run off the truck and into the sanctuary.
The Ruko community rangers have reported that these translocated giraffe seem to be acclimating to their new surroundings quickly.
“The original Rothschild giraffes at Ruko Conservancy were thriving, but Save Giraffes Now and all partners realized the importance of bringing in new genetics to diversify this population. The amount of energy everyone put into making this translocation possible was incredible to witness! We are so proud of the community at Ruko for making this safe haven for giraffes and we are so excited to watch the giraffe population continue to grow.”
– Fiona Sandeman, Save Giraffes Now Director of East Africa Operations
Support Save Giraffes Now
Save Giraffes Now has accomplished so much for giraffe since our inception 5 years ago, but there is still more to do. Please join us in our fight to save giraffe from extinction now so they can live freely and safely for generations to come.
