// giraffes

Our reserve is the last population of giraffes white of West Africa. Peralta Named giraffes of Niger, there remain only 210 giraffes in the reserve (2010), with an average of 20 births per year.


With 50 individuals in 1996, against 210 in 2009, the reserve Kouré includes the latest release of white giraffes in West Africa. Even if their protection is currently provided efficiently by the guides from the reserve, the small size makes this fragile species. Each year, the reserve has an average of 20 births, 6 deaths cons.

Changes in the number of individuals in the natural reserve of Koure Source: AVEN, 2010

Their diet consists mainly of leaves, twigs of trees, acacias and other plants whose wild melons. The coexistence with human activities can lead to conflicts with the expansion of crops that limits access to resources in their diet. The giraffes are fond of produce, especially beans, and are addressing the agricultural areas of the villagers. This is one of the main concerns of the AVEN, which has plans to reduce the conflict between men and giraffe. The Protection of Peralta giraffes is threatened by the expansion of agriculture and deforestation gradually.

The giraffe lives in groups composed of 6 to 12 individuals, which can reach thirty members during the rainy season. Each group is dominated by a male (alpha). The giraffe is the largest mammal in height, a measure already 1.80m baby, an adult male can reach the height of 5.50 m and a speed of 50 Kms / h.

The referencing of each giraffe is made by the guides, using photographs on the left and right of the giraffe, to identify the different tasks of each. The task has a role''fingerprint''. Since the second half of the twentieth century, following the deterioration of the climate, giraffes tend to descend toward the southeast, causing them to live in a human environment.

Photo: Christine Savary, 2009		Photo: Nancy Eicher, 2009		Photo: Christine Savary, 2009

The giraffe is evolving in a Peralta Sahelian ecosystem, between the Sahel-Saharan areas (north) and the Sahel-Sudan (south). The landscape is dominated by the tiger bush. The tiger bush is a field of investigation for scientists. Its name was inspired by the look at aerial photographs, which shows alternating bands of vegetation and cuirasses. Its formation is related to watering erosion in the rainy season, and wind erosion in dry season.