Two extremely rare
white giraffes have been killed by poachers in north-eastern Kenya,
conservationists say.
white giraffes have been killed by poachers in north-eastern Kenya,
conservationists say.
Rangers
had found the remains of the female and her calf in a village in north-eastern
Kenya’s Garissa County.
had found the remains of the female and her calf in a village in north-eastern
Kenya’s Garissa County.
A
third white giraffe is still alive. It is thought to be the only remaining one
in the world, the conservationists added.
third white giraffe is still alive. It is thought to be the only remaining one
in the world, the conservationists added.
Their
white appearance is due to a rare condition called leucism, which causes skin
cells to have no pigmentation.
white appearance is due to a rare condition called leucism, which causes skin
cells to have no pigmentation.
News
of the white giraffes spread across the world after they were photographed in
2017.
of the white giraffes spread across the world after they were photographed in
2017.
The
manager of the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy, Mohammed Ahmednoor, said
the two killed giraffes were last spotted more than three months ago.
manager of the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy, Mohammed Ahmednoor, said
the two killed giraffes were last spotted more than three months ago.
“This
is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the
only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe,” Mr.
Ahmednoor said in a statement.
is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the
only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe,” Mr.
Ahmednoor said in a statement.
“its
killing is a blow to the great steps taken by the community to conserve rare
and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation
efforts,” he added.
killing is a blow to the great steps taken by the community to conserve rare
and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation
efforts,” he added.
The
poachers have not yet been identified, and their motive is still unclear.
poachers have not yet been identified, and their motive is still unclear.
The
Kenya Wildlife Society, the main conservation body in the East African state,
said it was investigating the killings.
Kenya Wildlife Society, the main conservation body in the East African state,
said it was investigating the killings.
The
conservancy is in a vast unfenced area. There are also villages within the
conservancy. White giraffes were first spotted in Kenya in March 2016, about
two months after a sighting in neighboring Tanzania, the conservancy says on
its website.
conservancy is in a vast unfenced area. There are also villages within the
conservancy. White giraffes were first spotted in Kenya in March 2016, about
two months after a sighting in neighboring Tanzania, the conservancy says on
its website.
Some
40% of the giraffe population has disappeared in the last 30 years and poaching
for meat and skin continues, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
40% of the giraffe population has disappeared in the last 30 years and poaching
for meat and skin continues, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
The
population went from around 155,000 in 1985 to 97,000 in 2015, according to the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
population went from around 155,000 in 1985 to 97,000 in 2015, according to the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
