Somali Giraffe
The Horn of Africa, particularly North-Eastern Region of Kenya bordering Somalia, represents the world’s most important remaining stronghold for the Somali giraffe Giraffa reticulata. For decades, however, this region remained one of Africa’s most data-deficient conservation area, limiting effective planning and conservation of giraffes and other wildlife species.
Through persistent field presence and community partnerships, the Somali Giraffe Project (SGP) is transforming this data gap into one of the best-documented giraffe strongholds in northern Kenya, enabling evidence-based conservation planning.
SGP has established the first detailed population demography for Somali giraffes across key Kenya–Somalia border counties, enabling early detection of population changes and more strategic allocation of conservation resources.
By tracking age structure, recruitment, and sex ratios, we can identify stable herds, flag vulnerable populations, and guide targeted patrols and habitat protection, directly improving survival and calf recruitment in monitored areas. Complementing this, SGP’s regional Photo-ID system allows reliable identification of individual giraffes, enabling long-term tracking of survival, movement, and site fidelity.
As a direct result of consistent monitoring and targeted protection of key habitats, our conservation area recorded a 31% increase in Somali giraffe numbers since 2020. While the species remains Endangered, these gains have contributed meaningfully to a global population now estimated at approximately 20,900 individuals, reinforcing northern Kenya’s role as a stronghold for the species’ long-term survival.