Giraffe Center is a must-stop place if you are traveling to Kenya. Here, tourists can touch their furry cheeks and necks, and if you are brave enough, you can also feel their long barbed tongues, and if you are a little bit more excited, you can even offer a sweet kiss.
The Nairobi Giraffe Center is located on the outskirts of Nairobi. It was established by Jock Leslie-Melville, the grandson of the Earl of Scotland, in 1983. In the 1970s, a giraffe species called the Rothschild was on the verge of extinction. By 1973, only 130 giraffes remained in western Kenya. To save this rare species, the Jokers adopted the method of adopting and releasing it to nature. After hard work, the number of Rothschild has reached nearly 500. In 1979, Joker set up a nature education center to make tourists understand the importance of harmonious coexistence between man and nature and protect wild animals by feeding giraffes. After raising funds from various sources, Giraffe Park was established in 1983.
The Giraffe Center is a non-profit organization with the dual purpose of breeding giraffes and promoting wildlife conservation education. In particular, the Center’s educational initiatives are aimed at Kenyan schoolchildren, with a vision to instill in the next generation the knowledge and respect needed for humans and wildlife to coexist in harmony. The center also hosts art workshops for local schoolchildren, which will be displayed in the center gift shop and sold to visitors. Proceeds from the gift shop, tea shop, and ticket sales help fund free environmental activities for underprivileged children in Nairobi. In this way, a visit to the Giraffe Center is a fun activity and a way of helping Kenya conserve its future.
There are three kinds of giraffes in Kenya: Masai giraffe, Reticulated, and Rothschild giraffe. The Masai Giraffes, also known as the Kilimanjaro Giraffes, are the tallest living terrestrial animals. They are quite a sight, extremely picturesque, and known for their graceful movements even when running at their fastest speed of 50 to 60 km per hour.
The Reticulated Giraffe, or Somali Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), is a subspecies of giraffes native to Somalia; however, it is also widely found in Northern Kenya. Reticulated giraffes can interbreed with other giraffe subspecies in captivity or if populations are low in the wild. The Reticulated Giraffes coat consists of large, polygonal liver-colored spots outlined by a network of bright white lines. The blocks may sometimes appear deep red and may also cover the legs. Reticulated Giraffes are fast and can gallop up to 56 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour).
Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi ) is a subspecies of the Northern giraffe. It is one of the most endangered distinct populations of giraffes. The Rothschild’s giraffe is easily distinguishable from other subspecies. The most obvious sign is in the coloring of the coat or pelt. Whereas the reticulated giraffe has very clearly defined dark patches with bright-whitish channels between them, Rothschild’s giraffe more closely resembles the Masai giraffe. However, compared to the Masai giraffe, the Rothschild’s ecotype is paler, the orange-brown patches are less jagged and sharp in shape, and the connective channel is of a creamier hue compared to that seen on the reticulated giraffe. In addition, Rothschild’s giraffe displays no markings on the lower leg, giving it the impression of wearing white stockings.
The Giraffe Center mainly raises endangered Rothschild giraffes. The mission is to raise awareness of animal protection and provide environmental education. The goal is to inspire people to appreciate and protect the diversity of Kenya’s animals. This place is very interesting and full of activities. You can observe, feed, and even kiss giraffes from the second-floor balcony of a red building. This is a very strange and extremely rare experience, especially for a child or an adult at heart. From the Giraffe Center, you can also walk through the adjacent Gogo River (Gogo River), enter the bird sanctuary, and take a walk for an interesting forest walk.
The Rothschild’s giraffes at this center are raised in captivity when they are young. When they are two years old, they can adapt to the outdoor environment and will be released back into the wild. Carnivores generally only choose old, young, sick, and disabled giraffes as their prey because healthy adult giraffes are quite scary when they start to gallop. If they are kicked by their long and powerful limbs, the result is either death or injury.
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