Giraffes on the Go

The rescue mission got underway in December. Workers had built a special steel barge to transport the massive animals one at a time. Nicknamed the “Giraft,” the barge has tall sides to keep the giraffes from falling into the water. It is towed by a boat during the hour-long journey across the lake.

Getting the giraffes comfortable with the barge isn’t easy and takes time. Rescue workers have tried luring them aboard with treats.

“Mango was really successful,” says O’Connor. “Giraffes have a bit of a sweet tooth.”

But what works for one giraffe doesn’t always work for another. The first two giraffes to be rescued needed special medicine to keep them calm for the trip. 

“Each giraffe has its own personality,” says Susan Myers of Save Giraffes Now. “Some are very timid, while others are brave.”

The rescue mission started in December. Workers had built a special steel barge. They used it to transport the massive animals one at a time. Nicknamed the “Giraft,” the barge has tall sides to keep the giraffes from falling into the water. It is towed by a boat during the hour-long journey across the lake.

Getting the giraffes comfortable with the barge isn’t easy and takes time. Rescue workers have tried luring them aboard with treats.

“Mango was really successful,” says O’Connor. “Giraffes have a bit of a sweet tooth.”

But what works for one giraffe doesn’t always work for another. The first two giraffes to be rescued needed special medicine. The medicine helped to keep them calm for the trip. 

“Each giraffe has its own personality,” says Susan Myers of Save Giraffes Now. “Some are very timid, while others are brave.”

How did the giraffes get stranded in the first place? The island wasn’t always an island. It was once a peninsula that stretched into Lake Baringo.

In 2011, the endangered giraffes were brought to the area to protect them from poachers. These hunters kill giraffes for their meat and spotted coats. The giraffes could safely roam from the peninsula to the mainland to find food. But heavy rains that started in late 2019 caused the lake level to swell, cutting the giraffes off from the mainland.  

How did the giraffes get stranded in the first place? The island wasn’t always an island. It was once a peninsula that stretched into Lake Baringo.

In 2011, the endangered giraffes were brought to the area to protect them from poachers. These hunters kill giraffes for their meat and spotted coats. 

The giraffes could safely roam from the peninsula to the mainland to find food. But heavy rains started in late 2019. The rains caused the lake level to swell. This cut the giraffes off from the mainland.  

By mid-March, four giraffes had been successfully reunited at their new home: a wildlife reserve on the mainland. The other five are expected to join them by the end of this month. But that won’t be the end of the story. 

“Once we get them all off the island, that’s just the beginning,” O’Connor explains.

Only about 3,000 of this type of giraffe, known as Rothschild’s giraffes, are left in the wild. Like other types of giraffes, their population has dropped in the past 30 years. Poaching and habitat loss are big threats. Humans now use many of the areas where giraffes once lived for farming and logging. Also, war in some countries has driven giraffes from their habitats. 

If all goes according to plan, the nine rescued animals will be joined by more Rothschild’s giraffes from another reserve. Conservationists want the two groups to breed to help build up their population. 

“These giraffes are the heart of our homeland,” says Mike Parkei, a ranger at the reserve where the rescued giraffes now live. “We knew we had to come together and do everything possible to save them.”

By mid-March, four giraffes had been successfully reunited at their new home. They now live at a wildlife reserve on the mainland. The other five are expected to join them by the end of this month. But that won’t be the end of the story. 

“Once we get them all off the island, that’s just the beginning,” O’Connor explains.

Only about 3,000 of this type of giraffe, known as Rothschild’s giraffes, are left in the wild. Like other types of giraffes, their population has dropped in the past 30 years. Poaching and habitat loss are big threats. Humans now use many of the areas where giraffes once lived. They use it for farming and logging. Also, war in some countries has driven giraffes from their habitats. 

If all goes according to plan, the nine rescued animals will be joined by more Rothschild’s giraffes from another reserve. Conservationists want the two groups to breed. This would help build up their population. 

“These giraffes are the heart of our homeland,” says Mike Parkei, a ranger at the reserve where the rescued giraffes now live. “We knew we had to come together and do everything possible to save them.”

1. What is the main idea of the section “Planning a Rescue”?

2. Why did the giraffes need to be rescued?

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar “Get to Know Giraffes”?

1. What is the main idea of the section “Planning a Rescue”?

2. Why did the giraffes need to be rescued?

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar “Get to Know Giraffes”?