Rothschild Giraffe Conservation in Burundi (2026)

Conservation Status: The Burundi Context

The Rothschild giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) does not currently inhabit Burundi's protected areas or national parks. Globally, this subspecies numbers approximately 1,399 individuals in the wild, concentrated almost entirely in Uganda and Kenya. The subspecies is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, marking it as one of only two giraffe subspecies to improve from Endangered status in recent decades—a rare conservation success story, albeit from a critically low baseline.

Why Rothschild Giraffes Are Absent from Burundi

Rothschild giraffes have never been native to Burundi. The subspecies's natural historical range was confined to the savannas and acacia-dominated woodlands of northern Uganda and western Kenya. Burundi's landscape—characterized by dense forests, montane terrain, and limited open savanna—does not match the ecological requirements of Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi. These selective browsers require acacia and combretum-dominated savanna systems where they can browse on a wide range of tree species. Burundi's protected areas, including those in the Great Lakes region, have not historically supported giraffe populations of any subspecies.

The Rothschild Giraffe Crisis Across East Africa

Although absent from Burundi, the Rothschild giraffe's plight is relevant to regional conservation efforts. The subspecies experienced catastrophic population decline throughout the 20th century. From fewer than 100 individuals surviving in the 1960s, translocation and captive-breeding programmes in Kenya have rebuilt the population to 765 animals by 2018. However, recent global assessments estimate only 1,399 individuals remain in the wild across all populations.

The subspecies is now found almost exclusively in:

• Uganda: Home to the largest population, with over 1,545 individuals recorded in protected areas such as Murchison Falls National Park. These animals inhabit their natural range and represent the subspecies's most viable stronghold.
• Kenya: Approximately 765 Rothschild giraffes exist outside their natural range in conservation reserves and national parks, maintained through active translocation and breeding programmes.
• Western Ethiopia and South Sudan: Smaller, fragmented populations persist but face severe threats from conflict and habitat loss.

Key Threats to Rothschild Giraffes

Across their remaining range, Rothschild giraffes face multiple interconnected threats:

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Conversion of savanna to cropland, pastoral settlements, and infrastructure development has eliminated vast tracts of suitable giraffe habitat. In some areas traditionally regarded as prime giraffe habitat across Africa, populations have declined by more than 95 percent. Fencing of private reserves and national parks, while sometimes beneficial for protection, can isolate giraffe populations and reduce genetic diversity.

Poaching and Snare Injuries

Snare poaching remains a significant threat to Rothschild giraffes, particularly in Uganda. In 2023, Save Giraffes Now identified that giraffes in Uganda were sustaining severe snare injuries that did not respond to traditional wound treatments, prompting the development of improved snare wound protocols. These deep injuries, often targeting the legs and torso, can prove fatal if untreated.

Human–Wildlife Conflict

Human–wildlife conflict drives giraffe poaching in areas bordering protected areas. In Uganda's Pakwach district, villages adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park—home to the endangered Rothschild's giraffe—face severe livelihood pressures. After prolonged drought and river overexploitation, communities resort to poaching bushmeat, including giraffes, to survive. Without alternative income sources, this pressure will persist.

Climate Variability and Drought

Prolonged droughts reduce forage availability and water access, forcing giraffes into human-dominated landscapes where they face greater poaching risk. Climate shocks also disrupt pastoral communities' livelihoods, intensifying human–wildlife conflict.

Civil Unrest and Enforcement Gaps

In South Sudan and parts of Ethiopia, ongoing conflict undermines conservation capacity. Limited ranger presence, inadequate funding, and weak law enforcement enable poaching and habitat destruction.

Conservation Programmes: Regional Leadership

Although Burundi hosts no Rothschild giraffe population, regional conservation organisations working across East Africa employ evidence-based strategies that provide a model for broader wildlife protection in the region:

The Giraffe Centre and Translocation Success in Kenya

The Giraffe Centre, an entity of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) Kenya, leads the most successful Rothschild giraffe recovery programme globally. Since 2012, the Centre has translocated Rothschild giraffes to protected areas across Kenya and released over 40 individuals into various national parks and game reserves. The Centre has also helped rewild parks across Kenya with over 20 calves born to translocated animals, demonstrating that managed breeding and translocation can restore populations. This model—combining in-situ protection with strategic translocation—underpins contemporary giraffe conservation strategy across East Africa.

The Rothschild's Giraffe Project

Launched in 2010 by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and supported by the African Wildlife Foundation, the Rothschild's Giraffe Project conducted the first comprehensive scientific review of the subspecies's behaviour and ecology in the wild. Led by Dr. Julian Fennessy, a pioneering giraffe conservation scientist, the project generated critical data on ecological and habitat requirements necessary for developing effective conservation strategies. This research foundation underpins all subsequent conservation planning in Uganda and Kenya.

Save Giraffes Now

Founded in 2019, Save Giraffes Now has rapidly become the world's second-largest NGO devoted solely to giraffe conservation. The organisation operates across East and Southern Africa, addressing emerging threats such as snare injuries and genetic diversity loss. In Uganda, the organisation has improved wound treatment protocols for snared giraffes and continues to document population trends.

Community-Based Conservation and Alternative Livelihoods

Programmes addressing root causes of human–wildlife conflict have proven effective. The Ruko Conservancy on the shores of Lake Baringo, Kenya, established in 2006 by Rugus and Komolion elders, protects Rothschild giraffes while providing alternative livelihoods to herders through training in fishing, farming, beekeeping, masonry, and tailoring. Revenue from visitor contributions funds these programmes, demonstrating that wildlife-based tourism can support both conservation and community development. Similar models are being piloted in Uganda.

Capacity Building and Regional Cooperation

The Giraffe Conservation Foundation coordinates with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to share data, fund research, and develop harmonised conservation strategies. This regional approach ensures that translocation and genetic management decisions are informed by current population monitoring and ecological understanding.

Conservation Progress and Setbacks

Successes: The Rothschild giraffe is one of only two giraffe subspecies (alongside the West African giraffe) to improve its IUCN Red List status, moving from Endangered to Near Threatened. Kenya's captive-breeding and translocation programme has stabilised the population at approximately 765 individuals, preventing further decline and enabling population growth through natural reproduction in protected areas. Uganda's population, estimated at over 1,545 individuals, remains viable if current protection levels are maintained.

Ongoing Challenges: Despite these gains, the subspecies remains critically dependent on human management. Fewer than 1,400 individuals survive in the wild, making the population vulnerable to stochastic events (disease, drought, conflict). Genetic diversity remains limited, particularly in Kenya's population, which derives from a small founder group. In Uganda, snare poaching and human–wildlife conflict continue to exact a toll. South Sudan and Ethiopia's populations are poorly monitored and face severe security constraints.

Burundi itself faces significant conservation challenges across its protected areas. Burundi's national parks are threatened by bushfires (which are prohibited by law but remain uncontrolled), habitat degradation, and poaching pressure. While giraffes do not inhabit these areas, the underlying enforcement and capacity gaps mirror challenges facing giraffe conservation across the region.

Tourism and Visitor Support for Rothschild Giraffe Conservation

Travellers visiting Uganda and Kenya can directly support Rothschild giraffe conservation. Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda remains one of the few sites where visitors can observe Rothschild giraffes in their natural habitat, with revenue from park fees supporting ranger patrols and anti-poaching operations. The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, welcomes visitors and uses entrance fees to fund breeding and translocation programmes. Community conservancies such as Ruko Conservancy depend on visitor contributions to maintain alternative livelihood programmes and ranger employment.

Visitors booking wildlife safaris through conservation-accredited operators on SafariFind can ensure their spending supports verified protection efforts. Look for operators that:

• Partner directly with protected area authorities and NGOs (GCF, Save Giraffes Now, AFEW).
• Employ and train local rangers and community guides.
• Contribute a transparent percentage of fees to anti-poaching and habitat protection.
• Support community livelihood programmes in buffer zones.

The Path Forward: Lessons for Broader Conservation

The Rothschild giraffe's recovery from near-extinction demonstrates that subspecies can be saved through coordinated science-based management, regional cooperation, and sustained funding. However, the subspecies remains dependent on human protection—it cannot thrive without active habitat management, poaching control, and translocation support. This model, refined across Uganda and Kenya, offers lessons for protecting other endangered species across East and Central Africa, including those present in Burundi's reserves.

For Burundi's own conservation efforts, the Rothschild giraffe case underscores the importance of:

• Ranger training and anti-poaching capacity: Sustained investment in ranger recruitment, equipment, and monitoring technology (camera traps, GPS collars) is essential across all protected areas.
• Community engagement: Alternative livelihood programmes must address root drivers of poaching and habitat destruction in buffer zones.
• Regional data sharing: Harmonised monitoring protocols and data-sharing agreements with neighbouring countries strengthen conservation planning.
• Climate adaptation: Protected area management must incorporate climate-resilient habitat restoration and water-point development.

Last reviewed August 2026. Conservation data changes — see the cited sources for the latest figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there Rothschild giraffes in Burundi?

No. Rothschild giraffes have never inhabited Burundi's protected areas. The subspecies's natural range was confined to northern Uganda and western Kenya. Burundi's montane forests and limited open savanna do not provide suitable habitat for this savanna-browsing subspecies.

How many Rothschild giraffes are left in the world?

Approximately 1,399 individuals remain in the wild, with the majority (over 1,545) in Uganda and about 765 in Kenya. The subspecies is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, an improvement from its Endangered status, but the population remains critically low and dependent on active management.

Where can you see Rothschild giraffes?

Rothschild giraffes are found in Uganda (primarily Murchison Falls National Park and other protected areas) and Kenya (mainly in conservation reserves and national parks outside their natural range). The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, also houses individuals and welcomes visitors. They are not found in Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, or other surrounding countries.

What are the main threats to Rothschild giraffes?

Habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching (particularly snare poaching), human–wildlife conflict driven by livelihood pressures, drought and climate variability, and civil unrest in parts of South Sudan and Ethiopia. Snare injuries in Uganda have been a growing concern since 2023, requiring improved veterinary protocols.

Why did Rothschild giraffe populations decline so dramatically?

Conversion of savanna to cropland and pastoral settlements eliminated habitat across East Africa. Poaching for bushmeat and traditional uses reduced populations from several thousand in the early 20th century to fewer than 100 by the 1960s. Civil unrest and weak enforcement have perpetuated poaching in recent decades.

How have conservationists rebuilt Rothschild giraffe populations?

The Giraffe Centre in Kenya has led a successful captive-breeding and translocation programme since the 1970s, releasing over 40 giraffes into national parks and game reserves. The Rothschild's Giraffe Project (launched 2010) provided scientific research on behaviour and ecology. Save Giraffes Now (founded 2019) addresses emerging threats like snare injuries and genetic diversity loss. Uganda's populations are protected within national parks through ranger patrols and anti-poaching operations.

Is the Rothschild giraffe still endangered?

The Rothschild giraffe is classified as Near Threatened, not Endangered, marking a conservation success. However, it remains critically vulnerable. With fewer than 1,400 individuals in the wild, the subspecies is entirely dependent on human protection and active management. Any major setback (disease, conflict, drought) could push it back toward extinction.

Can tourists help protect Rothschild giraffes?

Yes. Visiting protected areas like Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda) and the Giraffe Centre (Kenya) provides direct revenue for ranger employment, anti-poaching operations, and habitat protection. Community conservancies like Ruko Conservancy depend on visitor fees to fund alternative livelihood programmes. Booking through conservation-accredited operators ensures spending supports verified protection efforts.

What is the difference between Rothschild giraffes and other giraffe subspecies?

Rothschild giraffes are known for their distinctive white stockings—the area from knee to hoof is not spotted, unlike other subspecies. They are selective browsers adapted to acacia and combretum-dominated savanna systems. Genetically, the IUCN now recognises four distinct giraffe species rather than one, with Rothschild's giraffe (Nubian giraffe) classified as a subspecies of the Northern giraffe.

How does the Giraffe Centre in Kenya help Rothschild giraffes?

The Giraffe Centre, part of the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW) Kenya, operates a captive-breeding programme and has translocated over 40 Rothschild giraffes into national parks and game reserves since the 1970s. Since 2012, the Centre has helped rewild parks with over 20 calves born to translocated animals. Visitor fees support these programmes directly.

What happened to Rothschild giraffes in South Sudan and Ethiopia?

Small, fragmented populations persist in western South Sudan and eastern Ethiopia, but they are poorly monitored and face severe threats from civil conflict, habitat loss, and poaching. Ongoing insecurity constrains conservation efforts and ranger capacity in these regions, making population estimates unreliable.

How does Burundi contribute to regional giraffe conservation?

While Burundi does not host Rothschild giraffes, it is part of the East African conservation landscape. Burundi's protected areas face similar challenges (poaching, habitat loss, weak enforcement) that mirror threats to giraffes across the region. Strengthening Burundi's ranger training, anti-poaching capacity, and community engagement supports regional conservation resilience and provides lessons for protecting other endangered species.