News Blogs

When visiting Tierpark Berlin, Andy Tutchings and his family had a close encounter with giraffe thanks to Florian Sicks, Curator of Mammology and GCF Zoological Management Associate.

Dr Julian Fennessy is on a mission to West Africa in order to support the African Wildlife Foundation in further developing their giraffe (and elephant) conservation and management programme in this part of Africa. On route he is taking the time to blog about his experiences, adventures and challenges.

History was made on Monday 4 July 2011 when delegates from across the world convened for the opening of the world’s first ever Wild Giraffe Conference, or Indaba (Zulu word meaning meeting).   That such a meeting had never been held before, and with news received that day that Botswana’s giraffe population figures had plummeted some 65% in the last 10 years, the Indaba’s title Giraffe the Forgotten Megafauna was completely justified. 

Here is the Blog of this unique ground breaking event. 

A brief overview of the Namibia Pilot Project and Indaba 'recce', conducted by GCF's Julian Fennessy and Andy Tutchings in October 2010. 

For children and scientists alike the extraordinary shape of the giraffe has posed many questions.

Why they have such long necks has so far been partly answered.

However, exactly how they maintain this neck, and get blood to a head that is two metres from their heart, has remained unknown.

Now research reveals that giraffes have a small, powerful, supercharged heart that is different to that possessed by other similar mammals.

Scientists have published the discovery in the journal Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A.

This giraffe is suffering what looks like the world's biggest pain in the neck.

Five-year-old Amali from Tulsa Zoo, Oklahoma, had the unfortunate crick in transit from The Wilds park in Ohio.

It is feared that the hook might never be cured.