Researchers Classify Giraffes into Four Distinct Species, Three of Which face Significant Threats

In a groundbreaking development in the world of conservation, scientists have reclassified giraffes, dividing the previously single species into four distinct species. This announcement was made by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 202X.

The four newly recognized species are the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), and the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata).

The southern giraffe, the most populous of the four species, resides in South Africa and surrounding countries, with an estimated population of 68,837, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation's 2025 annual report. In contrast, the northern giraffe, with only 7,037 animals, faces particularly big challenges to its survival due to being scattered in isolated pockets in countries facing poverty and war.

Rasmus Heller, a population geneticist at the University of Copenhagen, cautioned that drawing sharp lines between evolving populations can be tricky in giraffes. He noted that the four proposed species have mixed their genes together from time to time. Heller's sentiments were echoed by Fred Bercovitch, a conservation scientist at the Anne Innis Dagg Foundation, who thinks the IUCN team did not go far enough and would recognize eight distinct giraffe species.

Stephanie Fennessy, the executive director of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, stated that when giraffes have space and are safe, they breed quite well. There are positive conservation stories for giraffes, she added.

One such story involves the relocation of northern giraffes from Murchison Falls National Park to other parts of Uganda by conservation biologists. The small populations of the northern, reticulated, and Masai giraffes could lead to their being classified as threatened species. Three of the newly recognized giraffe species are indeed threatened with extinction.

To assess the four newly recognized giraffe species, the IUCN will organize teams of scientists later this year. This reclassification marks a significant step in the conservation of these majestic creatures, ensuring that each species receives the attention and protection it needs to thrive.