The tallest land mammal on Earth is also one of the most heavily persecuted animals in Africa, and the Amboseli Ecosystem is no different.
This year alone, our rangers have recorded 27 giraffe mortalities that were human-related. These range everywhere from poisoned arrows, electric and non-electric private fences, man-made ditches, and collisions with vehicles, to name a few.
Last week, another one was added to the list. While conducting a routine foot patrol in the ALOCA conservancies near Amboseli National Park, our rangers came across an older giraffe walking aimlessly with a spear protruding nastily from his stomach. It was likely thrown by a hot-headed youth who decided that impaling a creature double his age and triple his size would earn him some notoriety.
The rangers sent our radio room the images and GPS locations immediately. These were then relayed to the SWT-funded KWS vet unit, who was at the scene within a few hours.
In total, it took just 5 hours and 33 minutes between our rangers finding the male giraffe and him walking away following a successful treatment.
Unfortunately, incidents like this are not uncommon here in Amboseli. Dr Cynthia Moss recorded in “Elephant Memories” an incident in the 1980s where an elephant mother walked around with a Maasai spear in her forehead for more than a year before it finally fell out naturally. One can’t imagine the pain she must have felt for all that time.
Today, we are proud to say that an animal would never be left untreated like that in our area of operation. And that’s thanks to our rangers and close collaboration with our field partners, including the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Across Africa, giraffe species are struggling, their populations declining by 30% over three generations. Kenya’s giraffes are listed as “endangered” by the IUCN. But in Amboseli, thanks to the hard work of our rangers and partners, local giraffe numbers have been climbing. The local population now counts about 7,000, doubled from a decade ago.
Video: Jeremy Goss
Photos: Ranger Daniel Kutata
