Scientists surprised to find two dwarf giraffes in Namibia, Uganda

Researchers found two dwarf giraffes from different sides of Africa.

According to the study, published in the journal BMC Research Notes, scientists found an 8 1/2 foot (2.6 meter) giraffe in Namibia in 2018. Three years earlier, they had also found a 9 foot giraffe. 3 inches (2.8 meters). ) giraffe in a Ugandan wildlife park.

In both cases, the giraffes had the standard long neck but short, stocky legs, a clear sign of skeletal dysplasia. The disease affects humans and pets, but is rare in the wild.

This is the first time that dwarfism has been observed in giraffes. And while the animals survived to adulthood, the BMC study states that “the limited mobility caused by the size of the shorter legs could make these giraffes more vulnerable to predation, even in subadult life stages.” adults.

“Anecdotal video evidence from the giraffe movement in Namibia suggests that this giraffe has difficulty moving around, with a lame gait,” continues the study of the disease, the cause of which is still unknown.

Both giraffes have apparently been successful with reduced stature for years, becoming either an adult or a maturing animal close to adulthood. However, biologists have not spotted the Ugandan giraffe since 2017 and the Namibian giraffe since July 2020. Indeed, their shorter legs may have hampered movement, making them more susceptible to fast predators, the researchers conclude.

The number of giraffes has declined by around 40% over the past 30 years to around 111,000, so all four species are classified by conservationists as “vulnerable.”

Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, growth of human populations are some of the main factors contributing to the loss.

But conservation efforts have helped the numbers start to recover over the past decade, he added.

History compiled with the help of BioMedialcentral.com and wire reports.