Living with Giraffe: Conserving Africa's Towers

Giraffe are icons of Africa, but given their high profile, knowledge about giraffe is surprisingly limited. Population estimates across the continent suggest that giraffe numbers have fallen by about 40% in the last few... [ view full abstract ]

Giraffe are icons of Africa, but given their high profile, knowledge about giraffe is surprisingly limited. Population estimates across the continent suggest that giraffe numbers have fallen by about 40% in the last few decades, prompting a reassessment in 2016 by the IUCN that moved their status from “Least Concern” to “Vulnerable.” This rapid decline is mainly thought to be due to habitat loss and fragmentation, land degradation, and illegal hunting. To our knowledge though, there is yet to be any published literature on the social aspects of giraffe conservation and associated threats, which points to the urgent need for human dimensions research to inform the many growing conservation efforts.

This special session shares current research from projects in Namibia, Tanzania, and Kenya on a largely understudied species. Speakers will present the current state of knowledge, discuss how data collection has been adapted for cross-cultural work, and propose ways social and ecological data can be combined for management recommendations. Presentations will also highlight how giraffe conservation is bolstered by collaboration and partnerships in community-managed areas. After a series of oral presentations, extended discussion will focus on strategies to address threats with limited information and directions for human dimensions work on a low-conflict species.