Last Living Female White Giraffe, Calf Killed By Poachers

Among the things that Kenya took pride in was the female white giraffe, of which poaching has now taken away.

According to game officials at Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy in Garissa County, the rare white giraffe had gone missing with her calf, and after a long search, the officials only found her skeletons.

Unfortunately, the poachers also killed the white giraffe’s calf, the only hope of the continuity of the rare species in the area.

“This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. Her killing is a blow to the steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species, and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts,” said the Conservancy manager Mohammed Ahmednoor.

The white giraffe was discovered in Ijara back in 2017 and it was the pride of the community and Kenya as a whole.

Scientists said the pretty animal suffered from leucism which is a genetic condition that is similar to albinism in humans.

Tourists travelled from different parts of the world to come and see the rare breed of the giraffe that made the local community be recognized in the global map.

Now the rare species is no more, and her dry bones are the only thing remaining as her calf was also killed.

“This is a long-term loss given that genetic studies and research which were a significant investment in the area have now gone down the drain. “Also, the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area,” Ahmednoor added.

Kenya only had three of the white giraffes and now one white bull remains.

Read Also: In-Vitro Embryos to Save White Rhinos From Likely Extinction