Monitoring of Luangwa Giraffes in Luambe National Park

Luambe National Park, situated centrally within the Luangwa Valley between the North- and South Luangwa National Park, serves as a critical habitat for the Thornicroft Giraffe—an endemic species to the Luangwa Valley. Although the Luangwa Giraffe has been subject to assessments in the southern Valley during the late 1900s and early 2000s, its presence in Luambe National Park has not been scientifically examined. Over recent decades, the species has extended its range northward, establishing a substantial population within Luambe National Park.

This project seeks to enhance understanding of Thornicroft Giraffe population dynamics, particularly on population size and social interactions. Monitoring efforts focus on individuals newly or previously identified through distinctive coat patterns.

In recent years, we have identified more than 56 individual giraffes in Luambe National Park. Through our collaboration with the Zambian Carnivore Programme, which studies subspecies across the Luangwa Valley, we discovered that these giraffes regularly migrate south to South Luangwa National Park and vice versa. This finding indicates that the habitat along the Luangwa River serves as a critical migration corridor for Luangwa Giraffes.