Giraffe - Giraffa camelopardalis

Another peculiar icon of the African animal makeup. This giant of a creature sticks out like no other in the plains and bush. There is only currently one recognised species of Giraffe which is comprised of nine subspecies. This is set to change and a proposal has been put forward for there to be 4 main species of giraffe, the Maasai, Southern, Northern and Reticulated Giraffe.

The single Giraffe species is currently listed as vulnerable, although there is a distinction within the subspecies, some of which are listed as ‘critically endangered’.

They face a number of threats from the outside world, the main one being habitat loss, followed by war and Poaching. These threats have differing severity depending on which subspecies you focus on.