Saving the endangered Kordofan Giraffe in Northern Cameroon

WWA UK raised £1,500 (approx. $2,000) for equipment to support research into and conservation of the Kordofan giraffe

Giraffe populations are estimated to have declined by 30% in the last three and a half decades in Africa. Among northern giraffe populations, the Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) is particularly at risk, with an estimated global population of just 2,300 individuals. Over the past 35 years, this subspecies has suffered a dramatic decline of more than 80%, leading to its Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List in 2018.

In the late 1980s, Cameroon’s Kordofan giraffe population was estimated at 1,600 individuals. However, an aerial survey in 2008 recorded fewer than 680, underscoring the severity of their decline. Today, their numbers are estimated at around 500 individuals, primarily found in northern Cameroon. They inhabit four national parks — Waza, Faro, Bénoué and Bouba Ndjidda — as well as 28 adjacent hunting zones, which play a crucial role in their conservation and management.

Like other giraffe subspecies, Kordofan giraffes face multiple threats, including habitat loss, civil unrest and illegal hunting. They are targeted for their meat and hides, while agricultural expansion and other human activities continue to degrade their natural habitats.

A recent BBC documentary described this ongoing decline as a “Silent Extinction”, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this endangered species.

Dr. Serge Alexis Kamgang is a Cameroonian conservation biologist specializing in biodiversity conservation and capacity building across Central and West Africa. With over 15 years of experience, his work focuses on large mammal ecology, human-wildlife conflict, and protected area management. In recognition of his efforts to protect lions in the Bénoué ecosystem, Dr. Kamgang received the prestigious 2023 Whitley Award. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Biodiversity, Environment, and Sustainable Development (BEDD), a non-profit organization (www.bioedd.org) dedicated to supporting the Cameroonian government in biodiversity conservation. Under his leadership, BEDD runs the only Kordofan giraffe conservation initiative in the Bénoué ecosystem. This project aims to protect the Critically Endangered subspecies through extensive monitoring and active community engagement within northern Cameroon’s conservation landscape.

Update April 2025:  WWA UK has raised £1,500 (approx. $2,000) to cover the purchase and supply of a Canon RF 200-800mm Telephoto Lens, SanDisk Portable Solid-State Drive and Walkie-Talkies to enhance Dr Kamgang and his team’s ability to collect, store and share data. 

A very BIG and heartfelt thank you to our generous donors and supporters!

The equipment will contribute to the successful implementation of the project’s objectives, supporting the long-term conservation of the Kordofan giraffe.

Giraffe Conservation Foundation

More information:

http://www.bioedd.org/

https://giraffeconservation.org

UPDATE JULY 2025

Protecting Cameroon’s Last Kordofan Giraffe

– A Landmark Survey in Bouba Ndjidda National Park, Cameroon

In May and June 2025, Biodiversité-Environnement & Développement Durable (BEDD), together with eco-guards and local community members, carried out the first large-scale survey of Kordofan giraffes in Bouba Ndjidda National Park. This effort forms part of Cameroon’s National Giraffe Conservation Action Plan and aims to fill a critical knowledge gap about the population status, distribution and threats to this endangered subspecies.

Using systematic vehicle transects combined with real-time tracking on the EarthRanger platform, the team recorded 52 individual Kordofan giraffe across 24 different group sightings. These data provide the first up-to-date baseline on abundance, sex and age structure, and habitat use of the species in the park. They will be vital for adaptive and evidence-based conservation planning in the years to come.

How WWA’s Support Made a Difference

A key element of this success was the use of the telephoto lens purchased by WWA, which allowed the team to take high-quality photographs of giraffes from a safe distance without disturbing them. These images were essential to confirm age classes, sex and individual markings, helping ensure data accuracy and reducing stress on the animals. Thanks to this equipment, BEDD’s team was able to improve both the precision and the standards operational procedures of wildlife monitoring.

Looking Ahead

This survey marks an important step in the conservation of the Kordofan giraffe in Cameroon. By involving eco-guards and local communities, and by using cutting-edge tools like EarthRanger, BEDD is building capacity for ongoing monitoring and long-term protection of this iconic species.

We are grateful to WWA for their support and to our dedicated field team for making this work possible. Together we are proving that collaborative action and innovative tools can help secure a future for Africa’s most threatened giraffe subspecies.