This time on the pristine grounds of a reserve in Namibia.
Last month, the birth of a spotless baby reticulated giraffe in a Tennessee zoo captured global attention. It was initially believed to be the sole living giraffe of its kind worldwide. However, that distinction was soon challenged when a wild spotless giraffe was sighted at a private game reserve, the Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, in Namibia. This striking discovery, heralded by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in a Monday news release, marked the first-ever sighting of a spotless Angolan giraffe in its natural habitat.
Prior to this revelation in Namibia, there had been only two documented cases of such unspotted giraffes, both of which resided in zoos—one in Japan in 1972 and another more recently in the USA.
Giraffes, renowned for their towering stature and distinct spotted coats, typically exhibit a unique pattern of spots, with no two giraffes possessing identical markings. The existence of baby giraffes born without spots remains a mystery to scientists, who have yet to determine the exact cause. The news release postulated that genetic mutations or recessive genotypes related to coat patterns might be contributing factors, although these theories remain speculative pending further genetic analysis.
The spotlight fell on “Kipekee,” which translates to “unique” in Swahili, a spotless baby reticulated giraffe born on July 31 at Brights Zoo in Tennessee. This subspecies is native to northern and northeastern Kenya, with potential presence in parts of southern Somalia and southern Ethiopia.
In contrast, the giraffe spotted in Namibia belongs to the Angolan subspecies, constituting roughly half of Africa’s giraffe population. They are primarily found in central Botswana and extensive regions of Namibia, with scattered populations throughout Zimbabwe.
Sadly, seven of the nine giraffe subspecies are categorized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, with many listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Africa is home to approximately 117,000 giraffes, equating to just one giraffe for every four African elephants remaining in the wild. This sobering statistic underscores the urgent need for giraffe conservation efforts.
