European studbook for the giraffe eep

Remarks on developments during 2008:
The total population of giraffes included in the Giraffe EEP increased by only 3% (29 animals) till
754 animals. This is much lower than in 2007, when the EEP grew with 6% (46 giraffes).
However, this is not as bad as it sounds at the first sight. In the first place a growth of 3% is
enough to fill all additional spaces in the EEP; more important is that the reduced growth is mostly
realised by a strong (6%) decrease in the population of hybrids; they now comprise ‘only’ 25% of
the population; this was 27% at the end of 2007. Currently more measures are being undertaken
to further slow down the reproduction of hybrids by actively placing as many hybrids as possible
in single sex groups. This development is expected to continue and go faster in the future as more
and more hybrids are being excluded from reproduction and placed in single sex groups. For that
reason single sex groups of hybrids will be needed also in the near future.
The number of institutions participating in the Giraffe EEP increased by six till 143 during 2008.
Dresden/DE and Gdansk/PL started with an all male group, while Blackpool/GB and Ebeltoft/DK
started keeping a group of hybrid females. Planckendael/BE is also a new participant; they
received the breeding group of Antwerp but as part of the deal Antwerp received a hybrid female
group as well. Tabernas / ES is a new member of EAZA and is keeping an all male group. No
institutions gave up keeping giraffes.
The EAZA Giraffe and Antelope TAG decided in 2003 to keep all subspecies of giraffes
separated, although it could not be proved that Kordofan and Nigerian giraffes are two subspecies.
During 2007 research proved that it are indeed two subspecies, but, more important, all so-called
Nigerian giraffes turned out to be Kordofan giraffes, and this also applies to the crossbreeds of
these two populations. The holders of giraffes of this subspecies and the Species Committee
decided to accept the results of this scientific study and this was proposed to the EAZA Giraffe &
Antelope TAG, who also accepted it. So from this moment on all former Nigerian giraffes,
Kordofan giraffes as well as their crossbreeds are listed as Kordofan giraffes.
Therefore the Giraffe EEP is split up into six groups:
A. The Kordofan giraffes
B. The Southern giraffes (Cape and Angolan giraffes)
C. The Masai giraffes
D. The Reticulated giraffes
E. The Baringo giraffes
F. The hybrid giraffes and giraffes of unknown origin.
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