Baby Giraffe

Different authorities recognize different numbers of subspecies, differentiated by size, colour and pattern variations and range. Some of these subspecies may prove to be separate species as they appear to be reproductively isolated despite their mobility. The subspecies recognized by most recent authorities are:
• G. c. camelopardalis, the nominate subspecies, is known as the Nubian Giraffe. Its coat pattern has large, four-sided spots of chestnut brown on an off-white background and no spots on inner sides of the legs or below the hocks. It is found in eastern Sudan and northeastern DR Congo. It has been estimated that fewer than 250 remain in the wild, but little is known about this subspecies and consequently this estimate is labelled with great uncertainty. It is very rare in captivity, although kept at Al Ain Zoo in the United Arab Emirates.
• G. c. reticulata, known as the Reticulated or Somali Giraffe, has a coat pattern of well defined patches that are normally a bright orange-brown colour. These patches have sharp edges and are separated by bold, bright white lines. It ranges from northeastern Kenya, into southern Ethiopia and Somalia. It has been estimated that fewer than 5.000 remain in the wild, and based on ISIS records it is among the most common in zoos, with more than 450 kept.
• G. c. angolensis, the Angolan or Smoky Giraffe, has large spots with some notches around the edges, extending down the entire lower leg. It is found in southern Angola, northern Namibia, southwestern Zambia, Botswana and western Zimbabwe. It has been estimated that fewer than 20,000 remain in the wild, and based on ISIS records approximately 20 are kept in zoos.