DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
East Africa: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya. Savannah, thickets, forest areas.
BEHAVIOUR
It lives in herds with a variable composition. Individuals or smaller groups join or separate from the herd easily. Patterns of social behavior vary depending on the population. Usually active during the day. She rests and falls asleep standing up. It moves by lateral ambling gait. It can reach speeds of 50 km/h during a gallop.
DIET
It feeds mainly on Acacia drepanolobium, A. mellifera, A. etbaica (various species of acacia found in Africa).
REPRODUCTION
Females are able to reproduce in the wild when they are 3-4 years old.
Gestation: approx. 450 days. The young stay with their mother until 22 months of age. Length of life: on average 10 years in the natural environment.
GOOD TO KNOW
Reasons for the threat to the subspecies: loss of habitats through conversion to agricultural land, infrastructure development, soil degradation; habitat fragmentation; poaching. It is estimated that the number of reticulated giraffes has decreased by 56% over the last 30 years.
- Latin name: Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
- IUCN –Red List – EN – endangered
- CITES – Appendix I
- EEP – European Endangered Species Programme