[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]

Long-term research by GCF and partners has clearly identified four distinct species of giraffe in Africa – Masai, Southern, Northern and Reticulated giraffe, with several subspecies.

All four giraffe species and their subspecies live in geographically distinct areas throughout Africa and there are only a total of approx. 117,000 giraffe remaining in the wild.

While some of these species have been reported to hybridise in zoos, there is very little evidence that this occurs readily in the wild.

The four species concept is based on a long-term effort, spearheaded by GCF in collaboration with Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) in Germany and other partners, to unravel the mystery of giraffe genetics and taxonomy. GCF and partners have collected over 1,000 DNA samples from all major giraffe populations across Africa. These new findings will be invaluable in informing future giraffe conservation throughout Africa.[/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”107012″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”10px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_text_separator title=”Learn More”][nectar_btn size=”small” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” color_override=”#8c00ff” icon_family=”none” text=”Masai Giraffe” margin_right=”10″ margin_bottom=”10″ url=”https://giraffeconservation.org/giraffe-species/masai”][nectar_btn size=”small” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” color_override=”#ed9200″ icon_family=”none” text=”Northern Giraffe” margin_right=”10″ margin_bottom=”10″ url=”https://giraffeconservation.org/giraffe-species/northern”][nectar_btn size=”small” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” color_override=”#aa0038″ icon_family=”none” text=”Reticulated Giraffe” margin_right=”10″ margin_bottom=”10″ url=”https://giraffeconservation.org/giraffe-species/reticulated”][nectar_btn size=”small” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” color_override=”#0030a0″ icon_family=”none” text=”Southern Giraffe” margin_right=”10″ margin_bottom=”10″ url=”https://giraffeconservation.org/giraffe-species/southern”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”25″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]

All species and subspecies in numbers:

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If you want to read more about giraffe and the different species/subspecies, have a look at our giraffe conservation materials:

• Booklet: Africa’s Giraffe – Conservation Guide
• Poster: Africa’s Giraffe – Conservation Guide
• Poster: Africa’s Giraffe – Conservation Status & Distribution
• Poster: Africa’s Giraffe – Species
• Poster: Can you spot the difference?
• Poster: Namibia’s Giraffe – Conservation Guide
• Poster: Kenya’s Giraffe – Conservation Guide

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