Trapped on a shrinking island in the middle of a flooding lake filled with crocodiles, eight endangered giraffes faced a challenge that would make James Bond worry. But racing into action were conservationists, government officials, and local community members of Ruko Community Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya to try and construct a “giraffe-raft” in order to ferry them across the lake to the safety of dry land.
The stranded giraffes are of the Rothschild’s Giraffe subspecies, of which only 1,600 remain in the wild, making it one the most endangered distinct populations of giraffe. Longicharo Island in Lake Baringo wasn’t always an island, but rather a peninsula that became one after years of intense flooding. The giraffes, who were moved there to keep them safe in 2011, were kept fed and healthy by rangers traveling to the river on boats. With more flooding on the horizon, authorities agreed that with the island continuing to shrink, the threat of losing the valuable animals was too great.
Operation Giraffe Raft
As one of the largest of their species, building the giraffe-raft was no gaff. It would have to be a strong craft—balanced fore and aft. Rothschild’s giraffes can stand up to 20 feet tall (5.8 meters) and weigh up to 2,500 pounds (1,133 kilograms). Furthermore, their high center of gravity meant that it would be particularly dangerous to keep them upright in a boat, especially if the sight of a crocodile got them spooked.
For several months, the giraffes were familiarized with the rescue craft until the team sedated and blindfolded Asiwa, an adult female, and made the trip successfully. Gizmodo had an email exchange with David O’Connor, President of Save Giraffes Now, a non-profit that participated in the daring rescue, who said: “the rectangular steel structure was designed and built specifically to carry tall, heavy giraffe.” “The barge floats atop a series of empty drums, for buoyancy. Reinforced sides kept Asiwa from jumping out as the barge was gently maneuvered by boats,” he explained. “Asiwa, has always been a priority for the team on the ground, as she was the most vulnerable,” reads the triumphant Instagram post by Save The Giraffes “It is a relief for all involved to have got her safely across to the mainland and we are sure she is enjoying the space in her new home!”. Back on dry land, Asiwa and the other giraffes will be placed in a special 4,400-acre reservation with high, secure fencing that should keep them safe from predators and poachers alike.
Source: Good News Network
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