SAVING THE ROTHSCHILD’S GIRAFFE

Uganda is setting the sky as the limit in saving the world’s tallest animal; Rothschild’s Giraffe. Uganda today remains the world’s eminent home to the largest population of these giraffes. It’s no surprise that sometimes it is referred to as the Ugandan Giraffe.

The Rothschild’s Giraffe is a sub-species of the Giraffa species and is also classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Of the 2000 remaining species, the pearl of Africa plays host of 800 members at the Murchison Falls National park being among the only ones left surviving naturally in the wild. The others are housed within zoos and breeding centers like the Nairobi Giraffe Centre.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority working hand in hand with the Uganda Conservation Foundation initiated an operation within the Delta area of Murchison Falls National park that saw about 300 snares removed. The snares that were found strategically placed in the waterways in the park had claimed many lives of the Rothschild’s giraffe.

In addition to that, three ranger posts were set up at critical points to shield crucial giraffe habitats at Kabim and Semanya on the Albert Nile and Punu Rii in the Wangkwar valley. These posts have eased deployment of UWA personnel where and when they are needed.

As part of the wildlife expansion project as well as need to boost other tourist centres of a Uganda safari encounter, some of the Rothschild’s giraffe have been trans located to Lake Mburo National Park and the south bank of Murchison Falls National Park. At Lake Mburo, the towering animals are being reintroduced after about a century. It is believed the last were wiped out due to poaching and disease. While you’re in East Africa, you can also sight the Rothschild’s giraffe in Lake Nakuru National park as you explore and discover the great lakes region of Africa.

Extensive studies by the Uganda Conservation Foundation have also been able to find the cure of skin lesions which are large scaly patches that appear on their chests and necks that affect the giraffes in Murchison Falls. With assistance from the Busch Gardens (an African-themed animal park in the United States), Ivermectin an anti-parasitic drug was discovered as possible solution to the nematode.

To crown it all, coordinated endeavors by skate holders has fostered gradual growth of wildlife populations that include the critically endangered great apes Mountain Gorillas and the rhinos that have boosted Uganda as a premier wildlife safari destination.