Botswana Giraffe Project

Project Overview

This project seeks to undertake targeted research on the little known giraffe population of northern and central Botswana. To date no targeted research effort has ever been undertaken on theses giraffe populations, something which is quite remarkable considering their tourism and social status in Botswana, and across the continent.   

The project seeks to better understand the genetic architecture of the giraffe population throughout northern and central Botswana to help resolve their taxonomic status, and importance as significant (sub)species in the context of other giraffe populations in southern Africa, and Africa as a whole.

With little known of giraffe throughout the continent, and specifically in the project area, this work will be invaluable in better understanding the species conservation and in turn establishing baseline for long-term conservation management.

This project is an important tool for in-situ conservation, supporting wildlife authorities harbouring dwindling or unknown populations of pure (sub)species to identify optimal individuals for management programs. Populations of giraffe in Eastern and West Africa have and/or continue to dwindle and therefore a greater understanding of the populations of the southern African giraffe can potentially assist with establishing a framework for other population's management.

The specific aims of this research project are to:

• Better understand the genetic architecture of the giraffe population in Botswana to help resolve their taxonomic status, and importance as significant (sub)species. And importantly, are they are distinct fourth regional giraffe population? Are they closely linked with one or another of those previously studies? What is their conservation and management status?
• Collate all current available census and anecdotal data on their population numbers and distribution.