Giraffes appear to be making a comeback in Africa, with populations of three of the four species on the rise.
Despite ongoing threats, including habitat loss, the latest data compiled for Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s (GCF) State of Giraffe 2025 report found that numbers of northern giraffe, reticulated giraffe and southern giraffe are increasing, with more positive news that Masai giraffe numbers are stabilising.
“When we started with the analysis, we were super-excited to see these positive trends, especially in today’s world, where there’s so much doom and gloom,” says Stephanie Fennessy, Executive Director of GCF. “Increasing and stable giraffe numbers is clearly fantastic news.”
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Counting giraffes
Working with partners in Africa and internationally, the GCF team collated the latest population numbers and an updated distribution map for giraffe by compiling data from ground and aerial surveys over the last 12 months, as well as through interviews and questionnaires, camera trap data and other methods.
The positive trends are believed to be a direct result of effective conservation activity, research and growing global awareness about giraffes, who have been suffering what many have called a ‘silent extinction’, with previously plummeting numbers - giraffe populations have declined by up to 95% in some areas.
Why are giraffe number increasing?
“Developing the first-ever National and Regional Giraffe Conservation Strategies and Action Plans and supporting their implementation has proven a successful strategy for GCF in protecting all four species of giraffe,” Fennessy explains.
"By bringing all interested parties together, identifying key threats and deciding collaboratively on a way forward, we see positive results. Giraffe can only be saved in Africa by the people who share their space with them.
"Habitat loss and fragmentation are two of the main threats to giraffe. These are not easy threats to address, but concerted community-based and private land conservation efforts, in combination with awareness-raising and targeted translocations, help to alleviate these.
"Improving our understanding of giraffe distribution, numbers and movement, and making this information accessible to all relevant parties is another key factor in our approach.”
Giraffe numbers: species by species
Southern giraffe, found across southern Africa, showed the most remarkable growth, with an estimated 68,837 individuals in the wild currently, a 50% increase in just five years, largely due to improved survey coverage and increased awareness.
Reticulated giraffe are estimated at 20,901 individuals, an apparent increase, though reliable data’s difficult due to security issues in north-east Kenya and limited access in parts of Ethiopia and Somalia.
With only 7,037 individuals, the northern giraffe remains one of the world’s most threatened large mammals. But a 19% increase since 2020 offers hope amidst ongoing insecurity within its range.
Masai giraffe numbers have stabilised across Kenya (estimated at 43,926), and continue to grow steadily in Rwanda, with Zambia’s Luangwa giraffe (a subspecies of Masai) also expanding in range and number.
“While these trends are very positive, it’s important to point out that we have also got better at counting giraffe,” Fennessy notes. “Old estimates were often data-deficient, so these new numbers should be considered a new baseline for giraffe in Africa.”
GCF is set to launch a Giraffe Africa Database (GAD), a centralised platform for monitoring giraffe populations across the continent.
What's next?
The observed positive trends provide hope but giraffes continue to face serious challenges. “Our science-based approach to giraffe conservation is clearly working and we’re on the right trajectory,” says Fennessy.
“That doesn’t mean that all the work is now done - quite the opposite. We’ll continue to work with all partners on implementing the best strategies, including but not limited to reclaiming giraffe habitat through conservation translocations, helping to manage and conserve key habitats, continue monitoring all giraffe species, and importantly understanding and supporting local communities and other partners to ensure such giraffe successes are long-term.”
Top image credit: GCF & Anani Thomas
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