They discover that there are four different species of giraffes

Giraffes are one of the most iconic animals of the savannah. Their long necks, tall, twisted legs, and the unique pattern of spots and colors in their fur leave no one indifferent. They can grow to over five and a half meters tall, making them the tallest animal in the world. To pump blood to their heads, their heart, which weighs 11 kilograms, generates a pressure three times that of a human heart. Their tongue is also prodigious: it can measure up to half a meter in length and allows them to surgically pluck tiny acacia leaves from among very sharp thorns.

For decades, giraffes were considered a single animal species with several subspecies. However, recent studies have revealed that this view does not reflect the complexity of their lineage. In August, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group, which is made up of some 15,000 experts and scientists and 1,400 NGOs from 160 states, based in Switzerland, published a report in which all available data are thoroughly reviewed using an integrative approach called "traffic light systemIt consists of evaluating the taxonomic distinction between species or subspecies based on several lines of evidence, including morphological aspects, biogeographic distribution patterns, and genetic divergence.

The result was unexpected by many. It turns out that there is not just one species of giraffe, but four, most of which also have several subspecies. The importance of this discovery is not only academic, since it allows us to redraw the evolutionary map of this emblematic mammal, but also requires reconsidering giraffe conservation programs, since it is necessary to protect the habitat of all these unique species..

Four new species

Traditionally, species are defined as a group of individuals with similar morphological characteristics that mate with each other and produce fertile offspring. However, the distinction is not always simple, as hybrid pairings can sometimes occur. Furthermore, the existence of geographical barriers, such as mountain ranges, bodies of water, or extensively humanized areas, can prevent two populations of the same species from mating with each other, which favors their phylogenetic distancing.

The four identified species are the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), of which three subspecies have been identified; the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata); the Maasai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), which has two subspecies; and, finally, the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), which also has two. This taxonomic revision, which was officially published on August 21, 2025, represents a turning point for giraffe conservation. Recognizing four separate species will allow for better targeting of efforts, especially for the most threatened populations.

In this sense, the current data provided by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation Indicates that there are approximately 7,000 northern giraffes left in the wild. It is the smallest and geographically fragmented, making its survival status critical. The reticulated giraffe has nearly 21,000 individuals. This makes its status vulnerable but not critical. The latest records of the Maasai giraffe estimate that there are nearly 43,000 individuals, and the number is progressively increasing thanks to conservation programs implemented by Kenya, Rwanda, and Zambia. Finally, it is estimated that there are nearly 69,000 wild southern giraffes. Furthermore, it has experienced a 50% increase in just five years, thanks to improved survey coverage and conservation efforts in southern African countries.

Specific conservation actions

The implications of these data for giraffe conservation are clear. Considering that there are 150,000 wild giraffes worldwide as a single species is not the same as being aware that some of these species, such as the northern giraffe, are in critical condition, and two others, such as the Maasai and the reticulated giraffe, are in a vulnerable state. According to the report's authors, it is necessary to individually re-evaluate the status of each species in relation to the biogeographical area they occupy and the threats to their environment, especially those arising from expansive human activity and climate change, in order to direct resources and specific actions according to the specific needs of each species within its ecosystem, as well as in relation to the other organisms with which they share it. To achieve this, they assert that closer cooperation between countries and organizations is necessary to ensure a more coordinated response. As ecologist Michael Butler Brown, a co-author of the study, says, "Without that clarity, conservation would treat the giraffe as a large, healthy population, when in reality there are small, and very real, endangered species."