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Reintroducing Giraffe to their
Historical Home Rangelands

Goo Moremi Gorge Reserve, Botswana

Goo Moremi Gorge is a 1,797-hectare (4,440-acre) community-based reserve operating under the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) program in Botswana.

Save Giraffes Now (SGN) first met with Goo Moremi in December 2023 to discuss a potential giraffe reintroduction (among other conservation projects). At the time, Goo Moremi had zero giraffe in the protected reserve. However, SGN’s preliminary assessments concluded that the reserve could comfortably support an average of 30 giraffe. A small founder population would expand the range of Southern giraffe as well as benefit Goo Moremi by reducing problem bush thickets, increasing animal diversity, and promoting tourism and education.

In September 2025, SGN and Goo Moremi embarked on this historic reintroduction and brought six giraffe (three males and three females) to the protected reserve. These giraffe will now be able to live safely as they continue to breed and expand Botswana’s wild giraffe population.

All six giraffe were successfully released to Goo Moremi on September 17, 2025, and we are excited to report they are all doing well in their new home!

The giraffe selected for this reintroduction (three male and three female) were all of similar sizes and ages. This is ideal for creating a founder population.
Once the giraffe were captured, they were led to a transport trailer to be moved. The team moved two giraffe per trailer, as keeping them with a “buddy” helps maintain a calm environment during the move.
SGN’s Head Veterinarian, Dr. Liza Dadone, led sample collection for the ground teams. These samples will be used for health monitoring of the Goo Moremi giraffe. Dr. Liza remained onsite with the giraffe after their release to ensure they acclimated to their new home.

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