GPS tracking is helping the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) keep track of some threatened giraffes in west Africa. Eight giraffes were fitted with tracking collars in an effort to learn more about these animals movements and to keep them safe.

The reason behind the tracking is sort of a series of strange circumstances. The West African giraffe was put on a red list by the IUCN when it reached a dangerously low 50 giraffes in the late 1990s. Today, there are now around 200 of these beautiful beasts. However, with this boom in population the animals are being forced father and farther away from their “normal” habitat in a search for food.

Getting the GPS tracking device onto the giraffes was anything but easy. Since giraffes cannot have their heart slowed for any period of time greater than half an hour, the fitting crew had to work extremely quickly. After anesthetizing the animal, they have to attach a harness onto the beast with a camouflaged belt.

According to Andy Tutchings, co-founder and trustee of GCF, has said this about attaching tracking device to giraffes:

GPS satellite collaring of giraffes is an adrenaline-filled exercise, but we learned a great deal with our successful efforts in Namibia, and we have the best team working together again for this important effort in Niger.

The aim of the tracking is to figure out where the giraffes are going when they begin to roam for food. Here is how Julian Fennessy puts it:

This data will help us to understand the expanding population better and the extent of their range as they move into new frontiers. In turn, this will enable us to educate the local communities and help them to understand the importance of preserving the giraffe.

The newest GPS tracking effort is going to help researchers better protect these giraffes and make them a viable species once again.

Source: guardian.co.uk

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