SPECIES PROFILE Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis Image: Herbert Bieser May 2021 Author: H. Hesterman, BSc. MSc. PhD. Table of Contents 1.0 Summary ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Scientific Classification...................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Common Name .................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Subspecies .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Taxonomy........................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Description ............................................................................................................................. 3 3.0 Conservation and Legal Status............................................................................................... 6 3.1 Legal Status ........................................................................................................................ 8 4.0 Life History ............................................................................................................................ 8 5.0 Habitat Requirements and Preferences ................................................................................ 10 6.0 Natural Geographic Range ................................................................................................... 11 7.0 Introduced Geographic Range ............................................................................................. 12 8.0 Potential Distribution in Tasmania ...................................................................................... 13 9.0 Diet and Feeding Behaviour ................................................................................................ 15 10.0 Social Behaviour and Groupings ......................................................................................... 16 11.0 Natural Predators and Disease ............................................................................................. 17 11.1 Predators ....................................................................................................................... 17 11.2 Disease .......................................................................................................................... 17 12.0 Threats to Human Safety ..................................................................................................... 18 12.1 Injury ............................................................................................................................ 18 12.2 Disease .......................................................................................................................... 18 13.0 History as a Pest ................................................................................................................... 19 14.0 Potential Impact in Tasmania............................................................................................... 19 15.0 Previous Risk Assessments .................................................................................................. 20 16.0 Risk Management ................................................................................................................ 20 17.0 References ............................................................................................................................ 21 This pest risk assessment was developed in accordance with Policy and Procedures for the Import, Movement and Keeping of Vertebrate Wildlife in Tasmania (DPIPWE 2011). These set out conditions and restrictions for importation of controlled animals pursuant to S32 of the Nature Conservation Act 2002. This document was prepared for DPIPWE use within the Department only. 1.0 Summary Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) are tropical megaherbivores endemic to Africa and are the world’s tallest land mammal. They are specialised browsers adapted to feeding on tall woody plants and forbs and inhabit the sub-Saharan grassland biome. The species’ wide natural distribution has undergone a major decline over the last century, going extinct in seven previously reported countries. Reduction and fragmentation of their former range is associated with anthropogenic habitat loss and degradation throughout the continent. Ecological changes and conversion of land are likely to continue with Africa having the fastest human population growth rate in the world. In 2016 G. camelopardalis was categorised as Vulnerable by IUCN based on a continuing decrease in collective numbers, which have nearly halved over the last 30 years. Main threats are cited as habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching and ecological change. Populations are subject to different pressures across their broad distribution and those remaining are fragmented and genetically distinct, marking additional concerns for conservation. Decreases are most evident in east and central regions where populations include the Critically Endangered Nubian (G.c. antiquorum) and Kordofan (G.c. camelpardalis) subspecies. Approximately 70% of Giraffe live outside protected areas including private land where they can be legally farmed. The species has been hunted for centuries, but only recently has the trade in parts begun to be monitored, since the species’ was listed on CITES in late 2019. In situ conservation measures include effective habitat management in conjunction with community engagement, using initiatives to protect and balance critical resources (land, water) between wildlife and people via actions such as exclusion fencing. Translocations of Giraffe are commonplace and used to support tourism and farming enterprises and bolster animal numbers in the wild. There are no free-ranging populations outside of the species’ natural distribution and they are not listed as a pest. Giraffe are a natural curiosity and have been widely represented in captivity around the world for centuries. In Australia, they have been present in zoos since the mid-1920s, and under the EPBC Act 1999 the species is permitted for live import to the country for such purpose. There is no formal risk assessment for G. camelopardalis in Australia. As a key component of information to conduct a risk assessment for Tasmania, CLIMATCH modelling was applied to compare climatic conditions throughout Australia with Giraffes’ natural distribution in Africa over the last 1000 years. Results indicated environmental conditions would be least favourable for this species in Tasmania because of the state’s cool temperate climate. Giraffe have evolved to withstand extreme levels of heat and radiation in an arid environment which makes them especially vulnerable to hypothermia, and mass deaths occur after cold and damp weather episodes in the wild. It is highly unlikely escaped any animals that escaped in Tasmania could establish free living populations because they would be rapidly detected and removed or perish from environmental exposure. Based on their biology, behaviour and habits Giraffe are not envisaged to impact on native species, environmental assets or primary industries, damage property or infrastructure, nor represent a threat to humans. Benefits of importing Giraffe to approved zoological facilities in Tasmania include tourism, education, awareness raising and participating in conservation opportunities for this vulnerable keystone species. Page 1 of 26 Name and Taxonomy 1.1 Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Giraffidae Genus: Giraffa Species: Giraffa camelopardalis; see notes below 1.2 Common Name Giraffe 1.3 Subspecies Giraffe nomenclature remains subject of an unresolved debate at time of this submission (Bercovitch et al 2018; Fennessy et al 2018). The IUCN Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group currently lists one (1) species G. camelopardalis and nine (9) subspecies (Muller et al 2016, 2018) pending a formal reassessment of taxonomy based on new genetic research. Traditionally alpha taxonomy was based on morphological and geographical distinctions between populations, but this new approach indicates four (4) distinct species and seven (7) subspecies (Fennessy et al 2017). For a comparison of these two conventions, see Table 1. For this Species Profile, the status quo convention will be maintained as per IUCN (Muller et al 2016), and reference made to other considerations where relevant. Table 1: Comparison of currently accepted Giraffe Alpha Taxonomies Page 2 of 26 1.4 Taxonomy Giraffe are mammals of the Grand Order Ungulata, and as “even-toed” animals placed within the Artiodactyla Order, represented by over 90% of extant hoofed mammals. The artiodactyls are further categorised based on their digestive system, and Giraffe are placed akin to browsers such as cattle, sheep and deer (Ruminantia). Within this group they are further divided to Infraorder Pecora, being those that are characterised by cranial appendages. This group of ‘horn bearing ruminants’ are represented today by five Families, some of which e.g. Bovidae, is comprised of nearly 150 different species. By comparison, the Family Giraffidae contains only two living members – the Giraffe and the Okapi (Okapia johnstoni), both endemic to Africa. These species shared a common ancestor during the Oligocene