Giraffe populations across Africa have declined by around 40% over the past three decades – a drop so gradual it’s been called a “silent extinction.” A major 2025 IUCN reclassification has now split giraffes into four distinct species, giving conservationists like us a clearer picture of exactly which populations need the most urgent support.
In Murchison Falls National Park, we work hand-in-hand with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to protect the Nubian giraffe – one of the species most at risk. Our teams support ranger patrols, law enforcement and veterinary care to guard against snaring and illegal hunting, while our research programme monitors giraffe health, including emerging concerns like unexplained skin lesions.
The results speak for themselves: Uganda’s Nubian giraffe population has grown from fewer than 200 individuals to more than 2,000, proof that sustained, on-the-ground conservation can turn decline into recovery.
Our long-standing partnership with Tusk, since 2003, has been central to making this happen – helping us combine habitat protection, wildlife monitoring and community engagement so that people and giraffes can share Uganda’s landscapes safely.
Read the full feature on our work from Tusk below.
