The Endangered Rothschild Giraffe
Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.
— Jane Goodall
My love of Kenya and Africa was sealed by a kiss in Oct. 2010. My first day in Nairobi we headed to the Giraffe Centre—a refuge and breeding centre for the endangered Rothschild (Nubian) giraffes. I did not know that there were 9 species of giraffes on the African Continent. I had never even heard of the Rothschild Giraffe, whose numbers have plummeted by 80% over the past few decades. I was horrified to learn giraffes were slowly disappearing off the continent. I did know giraffes have always captivated me with their size, their beauty, their quiet elegance. The Rothschild giraffe is distinguished by its white stockings. The very popular baby toy, Sophie the Giraffe, is a Rothschild Giraffe!
We piled out of the van and entered the gates of the refuge. A stone wall bordered a treelined park and led to a broad set of stairs going up to an elevated viewing platform. My jaw dropped when I noticed visitors feeding two or three giraffes from the platform.
I made my way up the steps. I had never been so close to a live giraffe, now I was eye level!
One of the guides offered me a handful of pellets. “Here, you can feed them. Hold your hand flat or put the pellet in your fingers and let the giraffe take it. They won’t bite but stand back because they can whack you with the swing of their heads. That one over there is particularly greedy, you don’t want to get in her way.” We all took turns feeding the giraffes.
I held out my hand and a long black tongue swept up the pellet. I felt delight bubble up and I laughed out loud. “You can kiss the giraffe too, if you’d like,” said the guide appearing at my elbow. “This is Daisy, put the pellet between your lips and she will take it. Don’t worry about germs, they have antiseptic salvia to protect them from the thorns of the leafy acacia tree which is their favourite food.” I did as I was told and felt Daisy’s whiskery chin on my face followed by a slobbery lick. I was a goner—head over heels in love. What an initiation rite to Africa, giraffes were now under my skin forever, I was hooked.
Daisy’s kiss rekindled a spirit of delight in me that I forgotten. Since that day I have taken several groups to the Giraffe Centre before we head out to do volunteer work on a Me to We trip or go on safari. The giraffes are wonderful ambassadors for their species and wildlife in general. Did you know giraffes are suffering a silent extinction? They have already become extinct in seven African countries. They are dying due to loss of habitat, trophy hunting, human wildlife conflict, armed and civil unrest, mining and deforestation, poaching, and the bush meat trade.
Save Giraffes Now is a non-profit organization committed to saving Rothschild giraffes from extinction. They currently have an exciting rescue project underway. Several Rothschild giraffes are stranded on an island in Lake Baringo due to rising water levels. SGN is partnering with Northern Rangelands Trust and the the people of Ruko Conservancy to gradually familiarize the giraffes with a barge so they can ferry the giraffes off the island and translocate them to a sanctuary on their ancestral lands. Time is of the essence as water levels are rising and the availability of food on the island is shrinking! You can follow this amazing story on the SGN website, Instagram @savegiraffesnow, and Facebook Save Giraffes Now.
This program benefits local people through the creation of crucial jobs, building the sanctuary and fences, as well as for ongoing sanctuary operations and anti-poaching rangers. This is hugely important as people are benefitting directly from giraffe conservation, helping promote sustainable co-existence into the future.
These giraffes will be the pioneers in re-populating the region. Once the group is healthy in the sanctuary, they will be released into the wider Ruko ecosystem which is perfect giraffe habitat. Then other giraffes will be translocated there to increase group size and improve the gene pool. Overtime these giraffes should be able to travel through wildlife corridors to their distant cousins in Uganda! — Save Giraffes Now
I am delighted to collaborate with SGN and share their remarkable rescue story. Just $25 can help build the fencing needed for the Ruko Conservancy Giraffe Sanctuary. The move will happen over the next two or three weeks. You can stay updated by subscribing to their newsletter.
This week’s online store features a set of my giraffe cards—a great way to share the news about the importance of giraffe conservation. Learn more about giraffes by watching The Woman Who Loves Giraffes about Canada’s own Dr. Anne Dagg, who pioneered research on giraffes.