Masai Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii
The most common giraffe of East Africa, with jagged, vine-leaf shaped brown patches.
| Scientific name | Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Twiga wa Maasai |
| Conservation status | Endangered |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family | Giraffidae |
| Size | Males can reach up to 5.5 m tall and 1300 kg; females somewhat shorter |
How to identify
Dark brown patches with irregular, jagged (vine-leaf shaped) edges separated by wide pale bands; markings fade on the lower legs, which appear nearly white
Habitat
Savanna, open woodland and acacia scrub
Diet
A browser feeding mainly on the leaves and shoots of acacia and other trees
When it is active
Diurnal, spending much of the day feeding
Where it lives
Central and southern East Africa, centred on southern Kenya and Tanzania
How to spot it
Easily seen in acacia woodland and open savanna; note the jagged, irregular patches to distinguish it from the reticulated giraffe
Photography tips
Frame full-body silhouettes against acacia trees or the setting sun; use a telephoto to compress the scene and capture the head, neck and coat detail
Threats
Habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching for meat, and declining populations
Similar species
Reticulated giraffe (regular polygonal patches with crisp white network lines); northern giraffe (more regular patches with smoother edges)
