For most of the 20th century, all giraffes were treated as a single species, Giraffa camelopardalis. Under that framework, the species as a whole carried an IUCN Red List status of Least Concern, and the variation between regional populations was addressed through subspecies designations.
In 2016, genetic research confirmed that this framework was scientifically inaccurate. Giraffes are not one species but four, each genetically and morphologically distinct and each facing a different conservation trajectory. [1] The IUCN formally recognized this in August 2025, overhauling the taxonomic basis for all Red List assessments and international conservation policy going forward.
The shift in taxonomy has practical consequences beyond scientific classification. When population data were aggregated under a single species, the severe declines affecting some regional populations were obscured by the relative stability of others. Breaking giraffes into four species and their subspecies reveals a picture far more alarming than the species-level figure of approximately 117,000 wild individuals suggests. [2]
Three of the four species are classified as threatened or critically endangered. Within those species, individual subspecies face extinction pressures that place them among the most vulnerable large mammals in Africa.
Comparative Status at a Glance
The table below summarizes the current conservation status and estimated population of each species and subspecies:
| Species / Subspecies | IUCN Status | Est. Population | Primary Threat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern giraffe (total) | Critically Endangered | ~5,600–7,037 | Conflict, habitat loss, and poaching |
| Kordofan giraffe | Critically Endangered | ~2,000 | Armed conflict, habitat loss |
| Nubian giraffe | Critically Endangered | ~3,000 | Habitat loss, civil conflict |
| West African giraffe | Vulnerable | ~600–670 | Population isolation, human-wildlife conflict |
| Reticulated giraffe | Endangered | ~15,780–20,901 | Drought, poaching, habitat loss |
| Masai giraffe (total) | Endangered | ~32,550–45,402 | Poaching, land-use change |
| Luangwa giraffe | Near Threatened | ~550–1,400 | Isolation, small population size |
| Southern giraffe (total) | Least Concern | ~54,750–68,837 | Hybridization, population fragmentation |
| South African giraffe | Least Concern | ~29,536–37,000 | Small isolated populations on private land |
| Angolan giraffe | Least Concern | ~17,750–14,000 (Namibia) | Hybridization, locally extinct in Angola |
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The Taxonomic Framework: Four Species, Eight Subspecies
The four giraffe species recognized by the IUCN as of August 2025 are:
- Northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), comprising three subspecies: Kordofan (G. c. antiquorum), Nubian (G. c. camelopardalis), and West African (G. c. peralta)
- Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata), a monotypic species with no currently recognized subspecies
- Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), comprising two subspecies: Masai (G. t. tippelskirchi) and Luangwa/Thornicroft’s (G. t. thornicrofti)
- Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), comprising two subspecies: Angolan (G. g. angolensis) and South African (G. g. giraffa)
The taxonomic reclassification was the result of a comprehensive review by the IUCN’s Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG), which evaluated genetic, genomic, morphological, and biogeographic evidence using a structured Traffic Light System methodology. [3]
The GOSG concluded that the four species lineages diverged between 230,000 and 370,000 years ago, a degree of separation comparable to that between polar bears and brown bears. The reclassification now guides all upcoming Red List assessments and will influence national and international conservation policy.
Each species’ conservation status, population estimate, and primary threat profile is addressed separately below, ordered from most to least threatened.
2. Northern Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)—Critically Endangered
The Northern giraffe is the most threatened of the four species. With approximately 5,600–7,037 individuals remaining across three subspecies in West, Central, and East Africa, it is one of the most endangered large mammals on the planet. [4]
The species’ overall population has declined by approximately 77% since 1985, when an estimated 25,000–26,000 Northern giraffes were recorded. [5] Each of the three subspecies faces a distinct set of pressures, and their geographic distributions overlap with some of the most politically unstable regions in Africa.
Kordofan Giraffe (G. c. antiquorum) — Critically Endangered
The Kordofan giraffe is distributed across Central Africa, with its primary stronghold now concentrated in Zakouma National Park in Chad. Populations that once existed in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Sudan have contracted severely. Current estimates place the total Kordofan population at approximately 2,000 individuals. [6] This represents a decline of approximately 90% from the late 1980s baseline, when around 20,000 Kordofan giraffes were estimated to exist across the region. [7]
The primary drivers of this collapse include:
- Prolonged armed conflict across the Central African Republic and South Sudan, which has repeatedly disrupted protected area management and enabled uncontrolled poaching
- Habitat loss driven by agricultural expansion and the clearing of woodlands in the Sudano-Sahelian zone
- Commercial bushmeat poaching, with giraffes targeted alongside other large mammals
- Extreme population fragmentation: With only Zakouma now holding a significant concentration, the subspecies has lost the geographic range resilience that once buffered against local disturbances
The concentration of such a large proportion of the subspecies in a single protected area is a recognized conservation vulnerability. Any disease outbreak, severe drought, or security breakdown at Zakouma could have catastrophic consequences for the subspecies as a whole.
In November 2024, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the Kordofan giraffe as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, citing habitat loss, illegal hunting, and the international trade in giraffe parts as the primary threat factors. [8]
Nubian Giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis) — Critically Endangered
The Nubian giraffe was formally listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2018, following a documented decline of approximately 95–98% over three decades. [9] Historically widespread across northeast Africa, including Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Egypt, the subspecies is now confined to fragmented populations in Kenya and Uganda, with small and poorly surveyed groups in western Ethiopia and South Sudan. It is extinct in the wild in the DRC and Egypt. [10]
What was previously classified as the Rothschild’s giraffe, once treated as a separate subspecies, has been confirmed through genetic analysis to be synonymous with the Nubian giraffe. This consolidation means that all Rothschild’s populations now count within the Nubian total, which currently stands at approximately 3,000 individuals. [11]
The Nubian giraffe’s restricted distribution and small, isolated subpopulations make it especially susceptible to localized threats. The IUCN Red List assessment notes that its habitat in Ethiopia has been extensively settled, with habitat loss constituting one of the greatest threats to populations in that country. [12]
In South Sudan, the near-total collapse of wildlife governance during decades of civil conflict left populations unmonitored and unprotected; current population figures for that country are largely unknown.
Save Giraffes Now operates an active Nubian giraffe rescue and rewilding program at the Ruko Community Conservancy in Kenya, which represents one of the most significant ongoing interventions for this subspecies. [13]
West African Giraffe (G. c. peralta) — Vulnerable
The West African giraffe carries the most dramatic conservation story of any giraffe subspecies. In the early 20th century, it ranged across a broad band of West Africa from Nigeria to Senegal. By the mid-1990s, hunting, habitat destruction, and drought had reduced the entire subspecies to just 49 individuals, all confined to a single area near Kouré in Niger. [14] That single population represented the only surviving West African giraffes on Earth.
Since then, sustained conservation efforts coordinated between the Niger government, local communities, and international partners have produced a remarkable recovery. The population has grown to approximately 600–670 individuals today. [15]
The IUCN classifies the West African giraffe as Vulnerable rather than Critically Endangered, reflecting this positive trajectory. However, the IUCN’s own assessment criteria acknowledge that the population remains extremely small and highly concentrated, with all individuals living in proximity to human settlements and agricultural areas.
3. Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) — Endangered
The Reticulated giraffe is the most visually distinctive of the four species, characterized by the bold, clearly defined polygon-shaped patches that give it its name. It is also one of the most severely reduced, with an estimated population of 15,780–20,901 individuals today, down from approximately 36,000 in the mid-1980s, a decline of more than 50% in under four decades. [16] The IUCN classifies it as Endangered.
The Reticulated giraffe’s range is unusually concentrated: approximately 99% of the wild population is found in Kenya, with small numbers in southern Ethiopia and Somalia. [17] This geographic concentration makes the subspecies highly vulnerable to country-level disruptions. The Horn of Africa drought of 2021–2022, described as the worst in four decades, caused widespread mortality across northern Kenya. Between June and November 2022 alone, over 6,000 animals perished from drought in Kenya, with Reticulated giraffes among those affected. [18]
The major threats to the Reticulated giraffe are:
- Habitat loss through agricultural encroachment, deforestation, and settlement expansion in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia
- Commercial bushmeat poaching: Giraffe meat is traded in markets across northern Kenya, and the animals’ large size makes them high-value targets. In some border areas, the bushmeat trade is also tied to wider insecurity, with reports linking wildlife smuggling and game meat sales to armed poacher gangs, militia activity, and Al-Shabaab-related networks [19]
- International trade in giraffe-derived products, including bones, hides, and tails, with the United States historically representing a significant import market
- Climate-driven drought, which reduces vegetation cover, depletes water sources, and forces giraffes into closer proximity with farming communities, increasing human-wildlife conflict
- Infrastructure development across northern Kenya, including roads and fencing, fragments habitats and isolates subpopulations from one another
The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2024 proposed ESA listing would classify the Reticulated giraffe as a Threatened species with tailored 4(d) protections, regulations that would restrict US imports of Reticulated giraffe products and introduce permit requirements for any regulated activity involving the species. [20] Conservation organizations regard this as a significant step, given that the US has been the largest destination for legally traded giraffe parts globally.
4. Masai Giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirihi) — Endangered
The Masai giraffe was, until recently, the most numerous giraffe species and remains a defining feature of the East African savanna landscape. It is distributed across Kenya and Tanzania, with a small isolated population in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia—the Luangwa (Thornicroft’s) giraffe, which is classified as a subspecies.
Despite its relative abundance compared to the Northern and Reticulated species, the Masai giraffe was listed as Endangered by the IUCN in 2018 following a documented population decline of approximately 50–56% over three decades. [20] Current estimates range from 32,550 to 45,402 individuals, depending on the survey year and methodology applied. [21]
Poaching has been a primary driver of the Masai giraffe’s decline. The IUCN estimates that between 2% and 10% of the Serengeti National Park population is hunted illegally each year. [22] Markets for giraffe tails used in bridal ceremonies and traded as status items in parts of Tanzania have historically driven targeted hunting. This is especially striking because the Masai giraffe is Tanzania’s national animal, making its protection both a cultural and conservation concern. Emerging demand for giraffe bone marrow and other parts has added pressure in recent decades. Habitat loss through agricultural expansion and land-use change across the Masai Mara and northern Tanzania has further compressed the species’ range.
Luangwa Giraffe (G. t. thornicrofti) — Near Endangered
The Luangwa giraffe, also known as Thornicroft’s giraffe, exists as a single isolated population in the South Luangwa Valley of eastern Zambia. With only approximately 550–1,400 individuals recorded in the most recent assessments, it is one of the smallest subspecies populations globally. [23] It is classified as Near Threatened, reflecting its small population size and restricted geographic range rather than an active decline comparable to the Northern subspecies.
The Luangwa giraffe faces a specific conservation challenge: its complete geographic isolation means there is no natural genetic exchange with other Masai giraffe populations. The population has been separated long enough that it may represent a locally adapted ecotype, but its small size makes it inherently fragile. Any significant disturbance like disease, drought, or a surge in poaching could push it toward critical levels with limited capacity for recovery.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the Masai giraffe (encompassing both subspecies) as Threatened under the ESA in 2024, with 4(d) protective regulations. [24] Like the Reticulated giraffe listing, this would introduce US import controls and support research funding for a species whose decline has proceeded without equivalent policy attention at the federal level.
5. Southern Giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) — Least Concern
The Southern giraffe stands apart from the other three species as a contemporary conservation success story. With approximately 54,750–68,837 individuals across southern Africa, it is the most numerous giraffe species and the only one whose population has broadly grown over the past three decades. [25] It accounts for approximately half of the continental giraffe total. The US Fish and Wildlife Service concluded in its 2024 review that neither the Angolan nor South African subspecies meets the threshold for Endangered or Threatened status, and both are assessed at or near Least Concern. [26]
South African Giraffe (G. g. giraffa) — Least Concern
The South African giraffe is the most numerous subspecies of the Southern giraffe and the most populous giraffe population in any single country. South Africa holds approximately 29,536 individuals—more than 40% of all wild Southern giraffes on the continent—a figure that is nearly four times the estimated 8,000 recorded in the 1970s. [27] The population has benefited from South Africa’s well-developed network of private game reserves, national parks, and community conservation areas, as well as active translocation programs that have expanded the subspecies into areas where it had previously disappeared.
A significant conservation complexity is the prevalence of small, isolated populations on private land. South Africa has no legal obligation for private landowners to report giraffe numbers, meaning the true national total is likely higher than current estimates suggest. However, the concentration of many populations in small, fenced enclosures raises concerns about genetic diversity and the ecological role of giraffes in those landscapes. [28]
Angolan Giraffe (G. g. angolensis) — Least Concern
The Angolan giraffe is distributed across Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Angola, with Namibia holding the largest single national population of approximately 14,000 individuals. [29] The subspecies is characterized by generally light coloration and—in the arid regions of northwest Namibia—individuals that appear almost colorless, earning the informal description of “smoky giraffe.” Despite its name, the Angolan giraffe was locally extinct in Angola itself until a 2015 translocation from Namibia into private land began a reintroduction program. The Angolan population in Angola currently numbers fewer than 100 individuals.
A significant conservation concern for the Southern giraffe as a whole is the documented hybridization between the two subspecies in South Africa, resulting from historical translocations of Angolan giraffes from Namibia into areas where South African giraffes were already established. [30] This human-induced gene flow reduces the genetic integrity of both subspecies. A country-wide genetic assessment of South African giraffe populations is underway, with results expected in 2026.
6. Cross-Cutting Threats
While the specific pressures on each species and subspecies differ in intensity and character, several structural threats operate across all giraffe populations to varying degrees.
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
Giraffes have lost approximately 90% of their historical range over the past 300 years, with the most acute losses occurring in the past four decades as African human populations have grown and agricultural land use has expanded. [31] Fragmentation is the secondary consequence: as continuous habitat is divided by roads, fences, and farming areas, giraffe populations become isolated from one another, preventing the genetic exchange and individual dispersal that sustains healthy populations over time. As rangelands shrink, herd sizes contract, with groups that historically averaged 20–30 individuals now often numbering fewer than six. [32]
Commercial Poaching
Commercial bushmeat poaching affects all giraffe species but is most severe for the Northern and Masai species, where market demand for giraffe meat is most established. Giraffes are also hunted for their tails — used in ceremonies and as symbols of status across several cultures — for hides, and for bones marketed through informal trade networks. [33] The scale of poaching is difficult to assess systematically because giraffes inhabit large, remote landscapes, but field surveys consistently identify it as a significant driver of population decline.
Climate Change
Climate change is an increasingly significant and underappreciated threat. Shifting rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and the drying of key water sources reduce vegetation availability and push giraffes into human-populated areas in search of food and water. The 2021–2022 drought in the Horn of Africa, the worst in 40 years, resulted in the death of more than 6,000 animals in Kenya and directly affected Reticulated and Masai giraffe populations. [34] As climate projections for sub-Saharan Africa indicate more frequent and severe drought cycles, this threat is expected to intensify.
Civil Conflict and Governance Breakdown
Armed conflict disproportionately affects the Northern giraffe, whose range overlaps with South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo — all regions that have experienced prolonged instability. When state governance collapses, protected areas lose their management capacity, poaching surges, and systematic population monitoring becomes impossible. Several Northern giraffe populations in conflict-affected areas have not been surveyed in years, and their current status is effectively unknown. [35]
Slow Reproductive Rate
An intrinsic biological constraint amplifies the impact of all external threats. Female giraffes carry calves for approximately 15 months and typically give birth to a single calf. Roughly half of all calves fail to reach adulthood, and most females produce around five calves across their lifetimes. [36] This means that populations depleted by hunting or habitat loss recover slowly, even when conditions improve. For the most critically threatened subspecies, particularly the Kordofan and Nubian, the arithmetic of reproduction leaves little margin for further loss.
7. Policy Frameworks and Conservation Response
The formal policy response to giraffe population decline has accelerated significantly since 2016. Key developments include the following:
- IUCN Vulnerable listing (2016): The reclassification of giraffes from Least Concern to Vulnerable was the first formal acknowledgement that the species as a whole faced a significant extinction risk, and it catalyzed a broadening of conservation attention and funding. [37]
- CITES Appendix II listing (2019): The first international trade regulation applied to giraffes, requiring that all cross-border trade in giraffes or giraffe-derived products be demonstrated as legal and sustainable. Conservation organizations regard the listing as meaningful but limited, given that domestic trade within range countries remains largely unregulated.
- US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed ESA listings (2024): The FWS proposed listing the three Northern giraffe subspecies as Endangered and the Reticulated and Masai giraffes as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. If finalized, these listings would introduce US import controls, restrict the trade in giraffe parts through US markets, and support research and conservation funding. [38]
- IUCN four-species recognition (August 2025): The formal recognition of four distinct giraffe species by the IUCN has restructured the basis for Red List assessments and will inform upcoming species-specific conservation strategies and funding allocations. [39]
- National Giraffe Conservation Strategies: Countries including Chad, Kenya, Niger, and Uganda have developed national action plans for giraffe conservation. Data consistently show that range states with formal conservation frameworks achieve better population outcomes than those without them. [40]
Save Giraffes Now supports giraffe conservation work across multiple African countries, with a strong focus on Kenya, where three of the four giraffe species are found. Its projects include community-based conservation, anti-poaching support, emergency response, habitat protection, rescue and rewilding work, and veterinary care for injured giraffes. [41]
While high-profile efforts such as the Ruko Community Conservancy rescue and rewilding project have received significant attention, SGN’s work extends beyond one location or subspecies. Many of its conservation efforts respond to the different threats facing giraffe populations across their range, including habitat loss, poaching, snaring, drought, and human-wildlife conflict.
Despite these developments, conservation funding for giraffes remains disproportionately low relative to other African megafauna. There are now fewer giraffes in the wild than African elephants, yet giraffes attract a fraction of the research investment, public fundraising, and international policy attention that elephant and rhinoceros conservation commands. [42] Closing that gap, particularly for the most critically threatened subspecies, is the defining challenge of the next decade of giraffe conservation.
References
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