The northern giraffe, sometimes called the three-horned giraffe, is native to North Africa and is one of four giraffe species recognized as of August 2025. It was historically widespread across the continent, ranging from Senegal, Mali and Nigeria westward to Egypt, but its populations have declined dramatically and it is now among the most endangered giraffes; the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, with roughly 97,000 individuals estimated in 2016, and it is listed under CITES Appendix II. Current populations are fragmented across east and central Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Niger. Males carry three horn-like ossicones, two larger frontal ones and a median cylindrical one measuring 76 to 127 millimeters, with the frontal ossicones notably longer than those of southern giraffes; its recognized subspecies are the Kordofan, Nubian and West African giraffes, while the Senegalese subspecies is extinct. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Comparison
CITES Appendix CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Northern giraffe (Wikidata)
In Biome
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Giraffa camelopardalis
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Giraffa camelopardalis
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Giraffa camelopardalis
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyHabitat Regions, Giraffa camelopardalis
Habitat Regions tropical tropical terrestrial terrestrial
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (hunted-fished)
Giraffes have been killed for their meat and hide
In Biome: Grassland, Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland savanna or grassland scrub forest scrub forest
In Biome: Savanna, Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland savanna or grassland scrub forest scrub forest
View the Source 3. Northern giraffe (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q15083 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
- Child Taxon Of: Giraffe, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q862089 (Giraffe)
View the Source 4. Northern giraffe (Wikipedia)
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