The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) is the only NGO in the world that concentrates solely on the conservation and management of giraffe in the wild throughout Africa.

Foundation date

2009

Members

6 workers

Location

Namibia with a scope of action through all Africa

Ongoing initiatives

  • Running a comprehensive programme across Namibia with a focus on giraffe conservation research and environmental education.
  • Providing valuable financial support to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other conservation partners to conduct aerial surveys in northern Kenya.
  • GCF’s Environmental Education Work Book for primary school students has been a very valuable resource for our KEEP programme in Namibia.
  • Fundraising for World Giraffe Day to plan a conservation translocation of Nubian giraffe in Uganda.
  • Organising and participating in the first-ever Giraffe Conservation Science Symposium.
  • Undertaking the largest ever GPS satellite tagging of giraffe in order to better understand their spatial movements and habitat use in the wild.

Reversible & ribbed neckwamers for kids

Giraffe

Reversible & ribbed neckwarmers

Giraffe

Basic neckwarmers for kids

Giraffe

How can I help?

You can adopt a Giraffe from 5€/month, make a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a gift from the online store.

Sources of funding

    • 97% donations and grants.
    • 3% merchandising sales and others.
The West African Giraffe is the most endangered species of giraffe | Giraffa

West African Giraffe, the most endangered

Source: GCF

Giraffe tracking activities | Giraffa

Giraffe tracking activities in the Twiga operation

Source: GCF

Giraffe Conservation Science Symposium | Giraffa

First ever Giraffe Conservation Science Symposium

Source: GCF

Current concerns

      • Support the conservation of viable and existing habitats for giraffe.
      • Identify key threats to giraffe in Africa and develop innovative ways to mitigate these.
      • Raise awareness of and promote the value of giraffe conservation in African Range States as well as internationally.
      • Plan, develop, implement and administer projects and programmes in co-operation with local communities and partner institutions.
      • Collaborate with local, national and international partners on giraffe conservation efforts in the interests of giraffe conservation in African Range States.
      • Raise funds for giraffe conservation and management across Africa.
      • Maintain a close working relationship with the IUCN SSC Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) to provide comprehensive awareness and technical support.

Upcoming objectives

      • Increase our conservation team to support current activities throughout all areas of Africa.
      • In partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), undertake Operation Twiga II to help translocate more threatened Nubian giraffe across the Nile River to the south side of Murchison Falls National Park.
      • Support UWA in developing their first-ever National Strategy for Giraffe Conservation in Uganda.
      • Develop Giraffe Species Working Groups and Action Plans in Kenya, in support of the National Giraffe Conservation Strategy.
      • Increase conservation support for the Endangered West African giraffe in Niger.
      • For World Giraffe Day: raise awareness and support for Masai giraffe in Kenya and Tanzania.
      • Advance Reticulated giraffe conservation and monitoring across northern Kenya and Ethiopia, in collaboration with local and international stakeholders and partners.
      • Continue long-term giraffe conservation research in north-western Namibia, in close partnership with community conservancies.
      • Enable local and international partners to integrate giraffe conservation in their broader conservation goals.
      • Raise awareness for giraffe conservation at presentations and events internationally, including Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, East Africa, Europe and USA.

Milestones achieved

      • The genetic analysis shows that there are four highly distinct groups of giraffe, which apparently do not mate with each other in the wild. Up until now, scientists and the world had only recognised a single species of giraffe, made up of several subspecies.
      • Award winning BBC/PBS documentary “Giraffes: Africa’s Gentle Giants”.
      • More than US$ 100.000 were raised on World’s Giraffe Day 2016. The donations have already been put to good use by supporting rangers in northern Kenya, which includes the provision of much-needed monitoring equipment.
      • GCF provided grants for six conservation projects through Africa in 2016.
      • GCF has developed an Africa-wide Giraffe Strategic Framework as a ‘road map’ to guide giraffe conservation activities.
Kids with Giraffe workbooks | Giraffa

Educational activities

Source: GCF

Operation Twiga II to save the Nubian Giraffe | Giraffa

Saving a Nubian Giraffe

Source: GCF

A disturbing reflection

Giraffe are listed as Vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Giraffe numbers in Africa have plummeted by a staggering 40% over the last 30 years. We estimate today that there are fewer than 100,000 giraffes remaining in all of Africa.