Chad: Zakouma NP – Kordofan Giraffes

Zakouma National Park is one of the last true strongholds for the Kordofan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), a subspecies that is critically endangered across Central Africa. Zakouma is home to roughly 70% of the world’s remaining Kordofan giraffe population. While their numbers have plummeted elsewhere due to civil unrest and poaching, the population in Zakouma has stabilized and begun to grow thanks to the l management by African Parks. The Kordofan giraffe is visually distinct from the more common Masai or Reticulated giraffes found in East Africa – their spots are smaller, more irregular, and paler. In Zakouma, giraffes often come out into the open on the vast floodplains and form large groups called “towers”.