The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) announced on Monday that the last two Rothschild giraffes, “NKarikoni” and their little calf “Noella”, were brought to the mainland by boat from Longicharo Island in Lake Bingo.
The giraffes were reportedly moved to the island in 2011 to rebuild the population there. The animals were once housed on the island, as it was said. However, now the water level there has increased to such an extent that the island has become smaller and smaller and giraffes are no longer getting enough food.
A rescue operation was therefore launched in early December: one giraffe was next brought to a reserve of about 18 square kilometers on a specially built boat. With the help of mangoes the giraffe was mounted on the boat. In the new reserve of Hang Community Conservation, animals of rare subspecies must now settle and multiply, as animal rights activists announced.
Scientists are currently discussing the reason for the rise in water level in Lake Bingo, as well as other lakes in Kenya. On the one hand, it may be due to geological geological changes. In addition, increasing deforestation can produce more sediment in lakes.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210412-99-173930 / 3
