World’s Only White Giraffe Fitted with GPS Tracker in Kenya

The world’s only white giraffe, located in Kenya, has been fitted with a GPS tracking device to protect him from poachers.

The GPS tracker was fixed on the giraffe’s ossicone (horn) at Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy in Ijara, Garissa County.

The animal suffers from a rare condition known as leucism, that alters its genetic traits hence its white color.

The white giraffes were three in number at the conservancy but two, including a mother and her calf, were killed by poachers early this year.

As a result, the board of Ishaqbini Community Conservancy asked for help from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to have the remaining subadult white male fitted with a GPS tracker.

The exercise was done last weekend with support from the Northern Rangelands Trust and Save Giraffes Now. The device will transmit hourly updates of the animal’s location enabling rangers to monitor his movements to keep him safe from poachers.

“We are thankful for the tremendous help from KWS, Save Giraffes Now, and the Northern Rangelands Trust in furthering community efforts to safeguard wildlife species. The giraffe’s grazing range has been blessed with good rains in the recent past and the abundant vegetation bodes well for the future of the white male,” said Ahmed Noor, Manager Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy.

Northern Rangelands Trust’s Senior Wildlife Monitoring officer Antony Wandera said: “Our mission is to work with communities, enable them be resilient, secure their livelihoods as well as protect the unique wildlife like the only known white giraffe.”