MASAI GIRAFFES

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Context

• Masai giraffes are found near the Great Rift Valley in East Africa.
• Study found them more endangered that they were considered previously.
• For thousands of years they are unable to interbred or exchange genetic material, gene flow, owing to the division of population in two parts.

Other Details

• The division of population is caused by the Great Rift Valley.
• No overlapping genes or gene flow were found between the east and west side giraffes as they could not climb the steep cliffs of the Gregory Rift escarpments.
• It hints that in no female migration across the rift for the purpose of breeding.

The Great Rift Valley and Gregory Rift escarpments

• In general rift valleys are lowland region formed due to split in tectonic plate by tectonic activities of Earth.
• It is a series of geographic trenches spread in an area of 7000 kilometres.
• This is the geologically active area and has many associated active features like geysers, volcanoes, hot springs etc.
• The extension of this rift valley is in Africa from Lebanon (in the Middle East in the north) to Mozambique in the south.
• Gregory Rift and the Western Rift are part of The Great Rift valley system.

East African Masai giraffes

• These giraffes are native to East Africa particularly found in Tanzania and southern Kenya.
• These are also referred to as Kilimanjaro giraffes.
• Their scientific name is Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi.
• In last three decades, population of this subspecies has significantly reduced from 70,000 to 35,000.
• In Tanzania and Kenya their populations is divided into two by the gregory Rift escarpments (GRE).

Threat/Concerns

• Pressure on land has increased due to agricultural and pastoral activities. It led to fragmentation of habitats.
• Due to poor gene pool they are susceptible to diseases and show a poor calf survival.
• They are hunted for bushmeat.
• Some parts of these elephants are believed to be useful in traditional medicine hence more poaching activities.
• Droughts for long periods.
• Translocation of giraffes, for interbreeding purposes, seems highly impractical.

Importance

• Helps in improving biodiversity of areas as they are helpful in pollinating plants. They do so by dispersing seeds.
• They also support in controlling the abrupt growth of invasive or other type of vegetation.
• These support local community livelihood and an important source of their income.
• They also support tourism thus increasing the revenue for the local and national governments.

IUCN Status

• In 2019 they were declared endangered

Must read Article:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/international-union-for-conservation-of-nature