Save the last one!
The last known white giraffe in the world has been fitted with a GPS tracking device with hopes of protecting them from poachers.
The giraffe is currently living in Kenya.
The male white giraffe is the last one remaining after a mother and her calf were killed by poachers in March this year.
The Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy confirmed the news.
The mother and her calf were found in a skeletal state after they were killed by armed poachers in Garissa, which is located in eastern Kenya, earlier this year.
A GPS tracking device was attached to the last giraffe’s horns so wildlife rangers could keep track of the movements of the rare one.
Rangers will know the animal’s location on an hourly basis.
The death of the white female giraffe and her white calf not only affected the community, but it also affected tourism in the area.
Thousands of visitors were coming to the area on a yearly basis just to witness something very rare.
Conservation efforts were also affected. At the time of the death, people were devastated.
Mohammed Ahmednoor, the manager of the conservancy, released a statement about the death of the animals in March this year, where they said:
Its killing is a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species, and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts. This is a long-term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers has now gone to the drain. Further to this the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area.
The giraffes that were killed and the one that is left alive has the white color due to leucism.
Leucism is a genetic trait where a partial loss of pigmentation happens, which gives the animals the white color.
The genetic trait does not affect the eyes.
It’s just good to hear that the authorities are doing something to protect the animals.
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