Beast Buddies – Do Animals Have Friends?

That issue of preferred associates comes close to the human notion of friendship, and it can prove just as important in understanding animal goings-on as it does in people watching. Baboons, bats, and dozens of other animals have been studied from this perspective. Biologists may start by asking whether individuals prefer to hang out with […]

Sonomorphology of the reproductive tract in male and pregnant and non-pregnant female Rothschild’s giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rotschildi)

The application of real-time-B-mode ultrasonography to wild and zoo animal medicine has been shown to improve the understanding of reproductive physiology in many species. Ultrasound technology is especially helpful for monitoring urogenital health, which in turn has advantages for giraffe breeding and welfare in captivity. This study aimed to ultrasonographically describe the genital organs of […]

Rothschild’s giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi (Linnaeus, 1758) in East Africa: A review of population trends, taxonomy and conservation status

Giraffe populations have suffered a 40% decline in the past thirty years, making them a new priority for conservation and there are considerable uncertainty and disagreement over the taxonomic classification of giraffes. Consequently, there has never been a more critical time to fully understand the global population size and distribution of all giraffe subspecies. The […]

Genetic Architecture Detected by Microsatellite Screening of the Rothschild’s Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) Population in Murchison Falls National Park

There are six recognized populations of Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) protected in Uganda and Kenya. Two populations in Uganda are at Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park. Four populations in Kenya are at Lake Nakuru National Park, Ruma National Park, Giraffe Manor, and Yoder Flower Farm. The Kidepo Valley population in […]

The effect of translocation on the Rothschild’s giraffes

In July 1977, twenty one Rothschild’s giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi LYDEKKER) were trans-located by the Kenya Game Department from Lewa Downs Farm, Soy to Nakuru National Park. The objective of the translocation was to accord the  giraffes and opportunity to establish themselves in a protected environment. The research described in this thesis was carried out […]