Last night we met a most interesting couple who started a project 2 years ago to identify and follow giraffes in Tarangire and Lake Manyara parks. The Cleveland Zoo sponsors them so we can understand and follow these giraffes. Most people don't realize that giraffes are in the endangered status due to poaching and habitat loss. This couple has the largest study currently taking place here and I believe they have identified over 1900 giraffes using digital photography. A few years ago a Dartmouth engineer wrote a program to help identify patterns in a giraffes coat to uniquely identify each and every giraffe they see. So they go out and photograph for several weeks then analyze data for several days. They also are able to identify social behaviors that haven't really been documented until now. For instance when a giraffe is born, it's mother hides the calf for several weeks until she is ready to introduce the calf to the other females. So to spend an evening asking them all about their project has been great.
One great thing they talked about was a children's book they created on the wildebeest migration. It was done in 3 languages and given out to children living around the parks. This book more then likely was the only free book they ever received. They are now working on a giraffe book.
So think about giraffes today and about how we can make better changes in our lives to insure we can live with our native animals and still meet our needs.
I think of Joey every time I see a giraffe. Natalie still has him. What graceful animals.
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