Researchers can identify individual giraffes based on their coat patterns. | Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

For several decades, the number of Masai giraffes in the Serengeti was on a constant downward trend. It’s only recently that the population of these charismatic animals has slowly begun to recover. But a long-term, international study led by the University of Zurich has found that this is not the case with the subpopulations that live on the borders of the Serengeti’s protected area. The key to growth among the giraffe population seems to be the survival of adult animals, which are therefore especially worthy of protection. The team has identified more than 1,500 giraffes, based on their different coat patterns.

M. L. Bond et al.: Demographic drivers of population dynamics reveal subpopulation-specific conservation needs for giraffes in the Serengeti Ecosystem. The Journal of Wildlife Management (2025)