Our Save Giraffes Now team has just returned from the fieldĀ again after checking the status of our established projects and conservation partners as well as discussing new opportunities for giraffe conservation across Africa. We were thrilled to meet again with the teams from Maanzoni, Swara Plains Conservancy, Ruko Community Conservancy, and Northeastern Kenya before traveling also to Zambia and South Africa.
Photo by Tyler Schiffman
Northeastern KenyaĀ
SGN once again had the honor to meet with partner Raabia Hawa. Raabia and her team, Ulinzi Africa Foundation, work in Northeastern Kenya, an area heavily plagued by Al-Shabaab terrorism and terrorist-led poaching of the endangered reticulated and Maasai giraffe.Ā Poachers threaten giraffe by killing them for bushmeat. They shoot or spear the giraffe, trap them in wire snares, or slit their leg muscles when they are bending over to drink water, leading to a slow death. To combat this SGN and Ulinzi Africa Foundation have created a dedicated anti-poaching team to operate across Kenya’s Tana River and Garissa Counties to protect giraffe (and other wildlife) in this critical ecosystem.
SGN President, David O’Connor, had the pleasure and adventure of campingĀ overnight with Raabia and the rangers to help establish the mobile units. Unfortunately, the security situation changed rapidly, and they had to separate earlier than plannedĀ for their safety. Fortunately, the majority of project work had been completed the first day.
Photo (L)Ā by Tyler Schiffman, (R) byĀ David O’Connor
RukoĀ
While in Kenya, the SGN team again visited Ruko Community Conservancy to meet with local community leaders who have now become our friends and ā of course ā visit the rescued giraffe. We are happy to report that the giraffe are thriving in their new home and a couple of babies are on the way!
Ruko photos by Tyler Schiffman
Save Giraffes Now is delightedĀ to continue our ongoing partnership with the Ruko community. Recently the Ruko team struggled with accessing water at one of their ranger outposts, and SGNĀ procured a water bowser to mitigate any water challenges. We are also working with on-the-ground teams to extend and strengthen the sanctuary fence protecting these giraffe. Our next main course of action will be to reintroduce additional giraffe into the area to broaden the gene pool and generate a much larger population.
ZambiaĀ
SGN also had the opportunity to visit Zambia andĀ meet with our anti-poaching ranger and community scouts teams protecting the rare Thornicroft’s giraffe.
These Thornicroftās giraffe are an isolated population of about 600 giraffe that ā until recently āĀ resided only in South Luangwa National Park. Interestingly, these giraffe began venturing towards nearby Luambe National Park, one of their historic homes, creating the opportunity to further expand their range into the contiguous, and huge, Lukusuzi National Park.Ā Save Giraffes Now helped create a secure wildlife corridor, connecting the two parks and allowing the giraffe access to over 735,000 acres of new savanna habitat they could not previously reach. In addition to expanding the range for these Thornicroftās giraffe, this project created teams of community-led scouts and anti-poaching rangers who protect giraffe and other wildlife while also bringing additional stability to the region.
Photos by Neil Greenwood
Save Giraffes Now has made great progress in our giraffe conservation efforts; however, there is much work left to do, and we need your help. Please join us in our fight to ensure giraffe can live freely and safely in their native Africa for generations to come.
