World’s last female white giraffe and its calf killed by poachers in Kenya, conservationists say
- Only one living white giraffe remains, a male borne by the slaughtered female
- Discovery of rare animals in ‘skeletal state’ a major loss, says conservancy group manager
Kenya’s only female white giraffe and its calf have been killed by poachers, conservationists said Tuesday, in a major blow for the rare animals found nowhere else in the world.
The bodies of the two giraffes were found “in a skeletal state after being killed by armed poachers” in Garissa in eastern Kenya, the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy said in a statement.
Their deaths leave just one remaining white giraffe alive – a lone male, borne by the same slaughtered female, the conservancy said.
“We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe,” said Mohammed Ahmednoor, the manager of the conservancy.
“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.”