The mysterious Kordofan giraffe

The Kordofan giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum, is a subspecies of the northern giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis and one of the nine currently recognized subspecies by the IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature. At one point it was considered the same as the western giraffe, but it has since been classified as a separate subspecies.

About the Kordofan giraffe

Today’s remaining ~3000 Kordofan giraffes are found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad and northern DR Congo. The name Kordofan comes from the word ‘kurta’. In the Nubian language it is thought to mean ‘men’. Kordofan is a region in central Sudan, bordered by Darfur to the west and the While Nile River to the east. There may be a few remaining giraffes in parts of western Sudan, but the years of civil unrest and violence have essentially forced them into neighboring countries.

Kordofan giraffe identifcation

The pattern of the Kordofan giraffe is quite subtle, with small and pale patches that are irregular in size and shape.

The markings stop on the haunches and do not continue down to the lower leg.

Where to see Kordofan giraffes on safari

The best chance for seeing a Kordofan giraffe on safari in Africa is in Zakouma National Park, Chad. Half of the world’s Kordofan giraffe population lives here. Garamba National Park in DR Congo also has a small population, but it is still struggling to keep poaching at bay and numbers are not thought to be above 100.