
Rothschild’s Giraffe within Lake Nakuru National Park
The Rothschild’s giraffe is among the very many animals found within Lake Nakuru National Park. This rare animal was introduced in Lake Nakuru National Park in 1977 and it was got from western Kenya as a way to protect and conserve these rare and endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.
This was done by the government of Kenya through Kenyan Wildlife Services to gear the conservation efforts of the rare and endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe.
Currently are about 65 Rothschild’s giraffes in Lake Nakuru National Park which area currently protected there. Visitors who go to Lake Nakuru National Park will get a chance to see all the 65 animals through the game drives.
Lake Nakuru National Park was selected as the place where Rothschild’s giraffes could be safely kept because the park is one of the wonderful places that is well fenced with electronic fences deterring poachers from accessing the Lake Nakuru National Park to destabilize the animals and also animals can stay within one place without moving for long distances.
This kind of giraffe, I mean the Rothschild’s giraffe is very unique compared to other species of the giraffe with it having the unique paler patches in its coat that are organ brown designed in a cream-like channel. These brown-orange patches on Rothschild’s giraffe are kind of sharp compared to the jagged of the normal giraffe. For the common giraffe, it possesses the dark parches with bright whitish channel possessed on their coats.
Also, the Rothschild’s giraffes of the Lake Nakuru National Park are characterized by the lower legs having white markings resembling stocks which is not common with the regular giraffes. Among all the giraffe species, it has been proved that Rothschild’s giraffe is the tallest among all.
Still, the Rothschild’s giraffe in Lake Nakuru National Park has got about 5 Ossicones having 2 huge ones on top of its head similar to other giraffes and others lining on the forehead and two behind the ears with each are having one.
It was in recognition of the prominent zoologist’s Lionel Walter Rothschild that the Rothschild’s giraffe was named after him after it was found out that he is the one who discovered this kind of giraffe species or he was the first zoologist who studies about characteristics and made it distinct from the regular giraffes and this the origin of the name to this unique giraffe specie.
The Rothschild’s giraffes of Lake Nakuru National Park is kind of similar to the giraffe in Masai from afar but when you’re in a stone throw distance you will realize that that the outer designing or the court design is different especially if you great opportunity to sport the bot species of zebras at the same time.
The Rothschild’s giraffes usually harbor the wet grassland, woodland, and savannah areas and this is the reason why they were relocated to Lake Nakuru National Park from western Kenya because Lake Nakuru National Park provides the perfect environment that is suitable for these species to do survive.
This kind of giraffe is so social and you will find them in small herds of the same sex grazing that is male are always alone as well as the females alone. The only unifying factor where you can find both sexes together is during mating and they can as well stay within other animals species within the wildness provided they are not threatened or there feel that there is no completion for food.
By 3 to 5 years of age, the Rothschild’s giraffe will start producing and the females reach the producing stage much quicker than the females and the gestation period of the giraffe is about 14 to 16 months and they give birth to one child at a time. And any time of the year they can mate.
The Rothschild’s giraffe feed on grass mainly the tree leaves especially the acacia, wild apricot among others. At times giraffes can as well feed on grass fruits and sprouts in some parts of the wildness and their sense of smell and hearing is quite high which helps them to detect the predators from far.
Like any other herbivores, Rothschild’s giraffe has got predators especially the hyenas, lions, leopards, and crocodiles. However, because of its size, the predators always look for the weak and the young calves which are easily captured however, at times the old and huge giraffes can as well be attached by the predators though it is not an easy task as the giraffes fight back with strong leg kicks that even when the predators are not careful it may be injured or killed.
Poaching and habits degradation are the major threatening factors of the Rothschild giraffes and this is the reason why they are endangered and thus protecting them in protected areas like Lake Nakuru National Park to ensure that they are conserved and protected.
You can contact us at Africa Adventure Vacations for more details on how you can book with us to go and visit the Rothschild’s Giraffe in Lake Nakuru National Park any time you feel like having a safari to experience the true African wildness.