Raising Adult Survival Will Stabilize Declining Giraffe Subpopulations in Serengeti

The giraffe is an iconic animal of Africa, but despite their worldwide popularity, giraffe populations in the wild are decreasing because of illegal killing and habitat loss. A study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, led by scientists from the University of Zurich and their international partners, has determined how Masai giraffes are faring in the famous Serengeti Ecosystem of East Africa. The scientists found that giraffe numbers in the center of Serengeti’s protected areas have stabilized after dramatic declines from the 1970s to the late 2000s. However, the number of giraffes living near the edges of the protected areas has continued to decline. The study also showed that the survival of adult giraffes is the driving force in maintaining the population, indicating that managers must better protect adults to reverse the declining trends on the boundaries of the protected areas. Read the full press release here.