Every Masai giraffe has a unique and distinct spot pattern, much like human fingerprints, which can be used to identify individuals. Researchers and conservationists often use these patterns to monitor the movements and behaviours of individual giraffes in the wild. The Masai giraffe, in particular, is undergoing a silent crisis and has seen its populations decline significantly in recent years due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. They are classified as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 35,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Conservation efforts are underway to try to stabilize and recover the population.

Photo credit goes to Antony Trivet.