giraffe Subheading
Rothschild Giraffe
Rothschild's giraffe or Ugandas Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) is a subspecies of the giraffe. It is one of the most endangered distinct populations of giraffe, with 1671 individuals estimated in the wild in 2016.
Isolated populations of Rothschild's giraffes live in savannahs, grasslands and open woodlands of Uganda and Kenya.
Giraffe at Murchison Falls
Only 250 lived in their native range in Murchison Falls National Park in 2016, though programmes to help their survival exist in Uganda and Kenya.
Murchison Falls National Park hosts by far the largest population of giraffe and is therefore at the centre of the GCF Uganda programme.
Kidepo NP
In addition to the giraffe in Murchison Falls National Park there is a small population in Kidepo Valley National Park, and a few were reintroduced to Lake Mboro National Park.
Though they are the world’s tallest land mammal - even a newborn giraffe stands at six feet (2m) tall! - their neck contains just seven vertebrae - exactly the same as a human.
Giraffe Vulnerability
Unfortunately, the giraffe’s unique characteristics also led to them being heavily hunted. Their tails alone were made into bracelets, fly-swatters, threads for sewing and threading beads.
Its swaying gait comes as a result of it moving both right legs simultaneously, followed by both left legs; and its favourite food is the hideously spiky acacia, which it strips of leaves using its long, dark purple tongue. As a consequence they often pierce their tongue, lips, or mouth with these hideous spines so the giraffe has developed an antiseptic saliva as a way of helping self healing.