Giraffe Wildlife Corridor
Luambe National Park, Zambia
CREATING THE LUAMBE-LUKUSUZI GIRAFFE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR
The endangered Masai giraffe species numbers have fallen by over 50% in the past 30 years, with just an estimated 35,000 left in the wild. In Zambia there is a unique population of Masai giraffe (Thornicroft’s giraffe) that are found isolated in South Luangwa National Park. There are currently an estimated 600 giraffe, a small, but vital population. Incredibly they have begun expanding eastwards on their own out of South Luangwa, and have been able to return to Luambe National Park, a historic home!
Save Giraffes Now has partnered with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and local communities on an ambitious and impactful initiative that is offering new hope to these giraffe. This project offers these giraffe the ability to expand even further eastward and into the massive Lukusuzi National Park which was once a core habitat for giraffe. Together, the team created a protected wildlife corridor to connect Luambe National Park to Lukusuzi National Park. This corridor will allow giraffe to disperse into the rich habitat and safety of Lukusuzi.
With access to this greater expanse of habitat (735,000 acres), this population of giraffe can increase and thrive, offering hope to the endangered Masai giraffe species. In addition, this project provides alternative sustainable sources of income and benefits to the local people lining in the region.
Please consider helping support this important project that opens up over 735,000 acres of expanded habitat to this isolated population of giraffe. Your help also helps support the unheralded work of the anti-poaching rangers on the front lines keeping these giraffe and other wildlife safe from human predators. The Zambian government, the local community and conservation organizations are working closely together to bring hope and safety to the last giants of Zambia. 100% of your donation goes to on-the-ground conservation work in Africa.
LOCATION
PARTNERS
The Masai Thornicroft’s giraffe is a unique type of giraffe found only in Zambia, nowhere else. These giraffe are an isolated population of the endangered Masai giraffe species which is found mainly in Tanzania and southern Kenya. In fact, this is the only type of Masai Giraffe found outside of Kenya and Tanzania. Overall, the Masai giraffe numbers have declined drastically by over 50% in just the last 30 years. In 2019, with just 35,000 left in the wild, they were officially listed as Endangered.
These rare Masai Thornicroft giraffe are an isolated population of about 600 giraffe, until recently all in the South Luangwa National Park area. Interestingly, these giraffe have recently started venturing into Luambe National Park, one of their historic homes. This natural expansion to Luambe has opened up the opportunity to further expand their range into the contiguous, and huge, Lukusuzi National Park.
We at SGN partnered with IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and the local communities on a project to create a secure wildlife corridor that will allow the giraffe that are currently in a relatively limited area to have access to over 735,000 acres of new savanna habitat they could not previously access. Eventually these giraffe should be able to freely transit to the even wider expanse of the 8 million acre Malawi-Zambia Conservation Area. Additionally, this project created and gives ongoing support to teams of community-led scouts and anti-poaching rangers who protect giraffe and other wildlife while also bringing additional stability to the region.
Community scouts and rangers have been hired from the local community in efforts to help protect and support the returning wildlife. Working with the community to create sustainable opportunities around the giraffe and other wildlife through lease and concession fees, this project also supports future eco-tourism and development of other community businesses.