Laikipia is endowed with key wildlife species that mainly occur outside protected areas. Most of these species are critical to the ecosystem, and their conservation through species action plans is crucial for enhancing and maintaining viable populations. Reticulated / Somali giraffe is one of the endangered species that occurs east of the Rift Valley across southern Ethiopia, northern and north-eastern Kenya, as well as the adjacent areas of southern Somalia. While the reticulated giraffes are the most abundant giraffe species in Kenya, with a population of 19,740 as per the National Wildlife Census Report 2021, their population has faced numerous challenges.
In April, we participated in a two-day workshop for the Reticulated Giraffe Range Committee. The workshop, which Kenya Wildlife Service organized in partnership with Giraffe Conservation Foundation and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, aimed to consolidate the successes achieved and build on the foundation of the 2nd edition of the National Recovery and Action Plan for Giraffe 2023- 2027. The workshop brought conservation players within the range of the reticulated giraffes in the various counties, including Laikipia, Wajir, Marsabit, Mandera, Garissa, Isiolo, Samburu and Meru in the Mountain, Eastern and Northern Conservation Areas.
Officially opening the workshop was Senior Assistant Director Madam Lucy Mwita, who called for alignment of strategies towards the conservation of giraffes through research and a multi-stakeholder approach. To achieve the goal of mitigating threats and maintaining a self-sustaining giraffe population with a multi-stakeholder approach to achieve a net-positive population growth by 2027, stakeholders called for collaboration with local communities through Community-based anti-poaching programs.
The stakeholders from the conservation areas gave an overview of the current conservation activities, initiatives and challenges experienced in giraffe conservation. In the Northern Conservation Area, stakeholders noted that poaching was a significant issue and a cross-border challenge, urging the KWS and County Governments to collaborate in monitoring and patrols between Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
In addition, habitat degradation in the rangelands remains a key challenge towards conservation, as presented in the meeting. The KWS called for resilience in addressing the effects of climate change, including drought and flooding. Invasive species such as Opuntia stricta and Prosopis juliflora were key challenges highlighted in the North and Eastern part of the Reticulated Giraffe range. Key interventions from the LWF, Loisaba Conservancy, and Northern Rangelands Trust included proposed management strategies and efforts to minimize the colonization of giraffe habitats.
Dr. Aminga, KWS veterinary, highlighted the current wildlife diseases affecting reticulated giraffe, including Mange, which mostly occurs during the dry season. The disease causes sores on the giraffes’ mouths and skin. Veterinarians are currently carrying out research to determine whether the disease is endemic to Wajir County. He reinstated the role of veterinarians in responding to wildlife injuries and rescue, calling for adequate support from the stakeholders.
In his presentation, Dr. Muneza from Giraffe Conservation Foundation emphasized Kenya’s unique giraffe taxonomy and heritage, highlighting the milestones made towards their conservation that have led to a 20% increase from 2025. However, stakeholders were urged to harmonize the data on giraffe population and mortality, preferably through a giraffe mortality database, to enhance data recording and track the population of giraffes. Capacity building the rangers and local community scouts through tools and technology, such as Earth Ranger, was a key step towards monitoring and evaluation.
Key outcomes for the workshop were the development of key activities and highlighting challenges that need intervention within each strategic objective outlined in the National Recovery and Action Plan for 2023-2027. Additionally, the stakeholders developed a threat matrix analysis proposing priority activities. Stakeholders agreed to conduct more outreach through conservation education programs and to observe World Giraffe Day, commemorated annually on 21st June.
LWF is proud to have participated and given recommendations to the committee towards enhancing a viable population of giraffes through habitat restoration and conservation education awareness campaigns at schools and communities.
