Rothschild's
Giraffe
Project
CONSERVATION & RESEARCH IN AFRICA
Established in 2009, the Rothschild's Giraffe Project aims to increase our knowledge of this Endangered giraffe subspecies. Based near Nakuru in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, the Project is located right in the heart of the Rothschild's giraffe range.
The Rothschild's Giraffe Project is the first dedicated scientific research programme ever to be carried out on the Endangered Rothschild's giraffe and we are working hard to secure a long-term future for this magnificent animal in the wild.
EDUCATION
RESEARCH
If we are to develop effective conservation plans for a species or subspecies, research is essential. With very little known about the Rothschild's giraffe in the wild, we launched the first comprehensive scientific study of this mammal, and have been busy collecting data on the following:
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Population status and distribution
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Ecological requirements
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Behaviour and social structure
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Threats
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Management issues
This information will be used to develop long-term conservation strategies for Rothschild's giraffe in Kenya, to help ensure their survival in the wild. We hope to extend this project into Uganda in the future, to ensure we have covered the entire range of the Rothschild's giraffe.
We can be found out in the field most days, driving round trying to find giraffe - see the photo gallery to the right for a glimpse into our daily routine.
Here at the Rothschild's Giraffe Project, we believe that the key to conservation is in educating children and young people. These are the leaders of tomorrow, our future wildlife managers and conservationists.
We also believe that for conservation to be effective it must benefit all parties; the animals themselves but also the people who share that environment and the local communities living in those areas.
Conservation will never succeed unless it is supported by local communities. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of conservation work must be to communicate the benefits of wildlife to the people sharing their habitat and environment, to local communities, stakeholders and anyone else that may be affected.
With this in mind, we have developed an education programme about giraffe and wildlife conservation and the benefits it can bring. We show communities how important it is to conserve wildlife and demonstrate the benefits it has to them and their country.
We deliver this education programme to local schools, community groups and colleges, and hope that by teaching people about the benefits of wildlife, the financial security and development it can bring through tourism, we can inspire and engage people and get them on board with our mission.
See our Facebook page for updates on our Education and Community programmes, and to view images.
