Rothschild Giraffe

Rare and Gorgeous but Severely Endangered

The Rothschild giraffe is also known as the Ugandan or Baringo giraffe. Its scientific name is Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi. It is one of the 3 giraffe species found in Kenya, along with the reticulated or Somali and Masai giraffes.

The Rothschild giraffe is named after British zoologist Walter Rothschild, who was the first to comprehensively describe this giraffe subspecies.

Characteristics

The Baringo giraffe is one of the 9 giraffe species that occur in Africa. While, like other giraffes, it has brown markings, its patches are darker than the Somali giraffe's and tidier and less jagged than those of the Masai giraffe.

And, it is the only giraffe species without patches on its legs. In fact, its legs are white from the knees to the feet and its looks as if it is wearing white stockings.

The other peculiar feature relates to the horns. The Rothschild species have 5 horns instead of 2.

Attaining a height of nearly 20ft when fully grown, the Rothschilds are the tallest giraffe species. This therefore qualifies them as the tallest mammals in the entire world!

For other characteristics that are common to all giraffes such as what they eat, interesting facts about their tongues, when and how they give birth and how they fight, be sure to check out the giraffe facts page.

Population of Rothschild Giraffes

As their population only numbers about 500, the Baringo giraffes are severely endangered. They were however brought back from the brink of extinction by the perseverance of Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville and the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife they founded.

In 1974, the species numbered a paltry 130. This was on account of their rapidly receding habitat and poaching in order to make tourist souvenirs out of their tails.

Thanks to the breeding program started under the auspices of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife at the Giraffe Center in Nairobi, a well as the successful translocation of several mature giraffes into the wild, the number has now risen to several hundred.

Where to See Baringo Giraffes in Kenya

You can see, stroke, hand-feed and even peck about a dozen Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Center in Nairobi.

The giraffes roam the 140 acre grounds, away from predators such as lions and leopards and self-centered poachers.

If, though, you want these giraffes to poke their heads through your first-floor bedroom window or join you for lunch, you'd have to book into the adjacent Giraffe Manor.

The Giraffe Manor was the matrimonial home of Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville...

Later, it was converted into an exclusive hotel in order to offer resident guests this intriguing interaction with these graceful and elegant creatures.

The Manor is now owned by Tanya and Mikey Carr-Hartley and is part of their Tamimi camps and lodges in Kenya.

If you'd like to see the Ugandan giraffe species in the wild, your best bet is Lake Nakuru National Park, located about 2 hours drive from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. There, they browse the countless acacias trees that grow in the park with abandon.

Adopt a Rothschild Giraffe

Even though the Rothschild giraffe numbers have quadrupled from what they were nearly 4 decades ago, the species are certainly not out of the woods yet and their struggle for survival is far from over...

You can help their worthy cause by adopting one of the Baringo giraffes at the Giraffe Center. To do so, you would need to get directly in touch with the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife.

In return to a $500 donation which throws these affable creatures a lifeline, you will receive a lovely adoption certificate. And, remember the donation is tax deductible in the US.

Return from Rothschild Giraffe to Kenya Travel Packages Homepage