Namibia’s desert-dwelling giraffe naturally live in one of the harshest environments you can possibly imagine.
It is almost inconceivable that these gentle giants can survive in their desert home. Northwestern Namibia is one of the most isolated and scenically spectacular places on the planet. With an average annual rainfall of <100mm, the Namib Desert is considered one of the oldest deserts in the world. However, despite the harshness of the environment (or maybe because of it) there is great diversity in both plant and animal species. Elephant, black rhino, lion, leopard, hyena and numerous antelope and smaller mammals inhabit the area, fighting a daily battle against thirst, heat and predation. Amongst these animals one mammal stands tall, the desert-dwelling giraffe.
Giraffe are well-adapted to life in the desert. Their long legs allow them to easily cross the vast plains while their height gives them exclusive access to the highest branches of the towering Ana trees in the dry riverbeds.
However, giraffe are in trouble. The population of wild giraffe in Africa is now estimated at approximately 117,000, a drop of approximately 30% in the last three decades. These alarming numbers serve as a reminder that we need to protect giraffe now before it is too late.
