This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On Longcharo Island in Lake Baringo, Kenya, a group of seven Rothschild giraffes, also known as Baringo or Uganda giraffes, have been living in isolation for the past 10 years. The island, which is 188 acres in size, has become their home after the swelling of Lake Baringo in 2010 pushed them to higher grounds.
According to Jackson Komen, senior warden of the Lake Baringo Conservation Area, the giraffes have been struggling to adapt to their new environment, with some dying due to diseases and challenges of adapting to the hilly terrain. However, with the help of rangers, the giraffes have seen an improvement, and the youngest one is now five months old.
The biggest challenge facing the giraffes is predation by pythons, which have been strangling new-born calves, dealing a blow to the giraffes' procreation attempts. To address this issue, the community living around the area has endorsed a giraffe sanctuary, which will allow the critically endangered species to breed.
Plans are underway to relocate the giraffes to a designated giraffe sanctuary within Ruko conservancy, where they will be able to roam freely and breed safely. The Kenya Wildlife Service is the main player in the conservancy efforts, and ecological and security issues have been looked into, with an Environmental Impact Assessment already done.
Relocation is expected to take place between December and January this year, and the giraffes will be transported to the sanctuary using a specially built giraffe barge. The conservancy needs to be fenced to secure the animals, and the community is working closely with the Northern Rangelands Trust, the local government, and the County government to ensure the success of the project.
As of 2019, estimates show that fewer than 670 Rothschild giraffes remain, with Kenya hosting 40% of this population and Uganda hosting the remaining 60%.
