National Geographic USA - 10.2019

NORTHERN GIRAFFE RETICULATED GIRAFFE MASAI GIRAFFE SOUTHERN GIRAFFE

3,000 15,780

Increasing Decreasing Critically endangered Endangered Vulnerable Least concern

35,000 17,750 37,000 600 2,000 W. African Kordofan Nubian* Reticulated Masai* Angolan South African*

RETICULATED GIRAFFE Giraffa reticulata

NORTHERN GIRAFFE Giraffa camelopardalis

Nubian giraffe G. c. camelopardalis

Kordofan giraffe G. c. antiquorum

West African giraffe G. c. peralta

Population and conservation status

Spotting differences

Proposed taxonomy

Angolan giraffe G. g. angolensis Underlined countries allow hunting of giraffes.

Low High

South African giraffe G. g. giraffa

SOUTHERN GIRAFFE Giraffa giraffa

MASAI GIRAFFE Giraffa tippelskirchi

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Ok apis, giraffes’ closest relatives, have short necks. Their range is confined to the tropical rainforest.

The Kordofan and Nubian, subspecies of northern giraffes, are most threatened, living mainly in war-torn countries. Northern giraffes lack spots on the lower legs.

Of the four main species, Masai giraffes have the darkest complexion. Thirty years ago this species was the most populous, but it’s since been reduced by half.

Reticulated giraffes get their name from their clear- ly defined patches. There is some evidence that their numbers—although low—are stabilizing in Kenya.

The southern giraffe is at the least risk. Its popu- lations have increased significantly, and both of its subspecies are legally hunted in four countries.

Some 110,000 giraffes roam throughout Africa, down from a million in the 1700s. Scientists had long believed that all giraffes belonged to a single species, but new DNA research has identified four distinct species. Top threats to giraffes include habitat frag- mentation, deforestation, war, and poaching.

GIRAFFES

IN DANGER

RILEY D. CHAMPINE, TAYLOR MAGGIACOMO, NGM STAFF. SOURCES: DAVID O’CONNOR, JENNA STACY-DAWES, AND OTHERS, JULIAN FENNESSY, GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION; IUCN; WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY MAMMAL REVIEW VOL. 49, 2019;

*CONSERVATION STATUS IS BASED ON MOST LIKELY CLASSIFICATION WITH PROPOSED TAXONOMY, WHICH IS UNDER REVIEW BY THE IUCN.