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Are Zambian Giraffes Unique?

Last Sunday was World Giraffe Day and we noticed there was some confusion on Facebook over whether our species of giraffe that we have here in Zambia are unique?

Research by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) along with Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) in Germany and other partners, has been unravelling the mystery of giraffe genetics and taxonomy across the African continent. They have collected almost 1,000 DNA samples from all the major giraffe populations and, after careful analysis, identified four distinct species of giraffe, with five subspecies:

All Giraffe Species and Subspecies & Population Numbers:

So where are our Thornicroft’s giraffe?

Looking at GCF’s results you might have thought that they had forgotten to test here in Zambia, but they did test – their results showed that astonishingly our Luangwa ‘Thornicroft’s’ giraffe are not a separate species, or subspecies, but they are genetically identical to Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), which are also found further north in East Africa.

So does this mean our Luangwa giraffe are no longer unique? GCF is continuing to analyse additional data to determine whether they might be a separate subspecies of Masai giraffe – so the simple answer is that they might still be unique, but not a totally separate species.

The IUCN’s Red List still shows their old taxonomy – listing them as Thornicroft’s, and being ‘Vulnerable’. This was based on their low numbers. It is thought that there are approximately 600 individuals found in only one geographical area. Due to conservation efforts by the DNPW and Conservation South Luangwa, their population has remained stable for the last three decades.

So does this mean they are no longer threatened in the wild? Not at all. Masai giraffe were once the most populous of all the giraffe species. Their numbers have dropped from 71,000 three decades ago, to less than 35,000 today – being listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List. They can being found in central and southern Kenya, Tanzania, and along with our isolated population in the Luangwa Valley, there is also a small population living in Rwanda. Overall their numbers are decreasing, so the continued conservation of our small isolated population is becoming increasingly more important.

What about our Southern giraffe?

The giraffe living in Mosi-au-Tunya, Sioma Ngwezi and Lusaka National Parks are Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa). These fall into two subspecies: Angolan (G. g. angolensis) and South Africa (G. g. giraffa). Last year GCF signed an agreement to start collating DNA samples to test and research which subspecies our Southern giraffe belong to – it is even thought that they might be a hybrid of the two!

By using advanced research techniques GCF is unravelling the mysteries of our giraffe. They might not turn out to be unique or endemic species, but with continuing analysis and research, GCF might find out that Zambia has new unique subspecies. And, along with Kenya, we might also be home to three subspecies of giraffe within Africa – which in itself is special, and all the more reason to celebrate and conserve these incredible gentle giants.

You can find out more information on the conservation of South Luangwa’s giraffes on Conservation South Luangwa’s website – www.cslzambia.org

To keep up to date and follow GCF’s research then you can find out more on www.giraffeconservation.org