New discovery: Giraffes belong to 4 different organisms

The new study was published in the journal Cell Press journal Current Biolo, giraffes belonging to four different organisms instead of just one strain of long-necked animals.

Scientists from Namibia's Giraffe Conservation Fund said they took skin samples from 190 giraffes from different parts of Africa and conducted tests and took samples from all 9 strains of giraffes that were known before.

The genetic difference between these four deer strains is similar to the differences between polar bears and brown bears.

Thereby, they discovered four "very distinct" giraffes that they thought should be identified as separate species, including southern giraffes (Giraffa giraffa), Masai giraffes (G. tippel-skirchi), mesh-shaped giraffe (G. reticulata) and northern giraffes (G. camelopardalis).

The genetic differences between the four deer strains are similar to the differences between polar bears and brown bears.

Dr. Julian Fennessy of the Giraffe Conservation Fund in Namibia said that by identifying the four strains of giraffes, scientists will have a basis to identify and effectively conduct species conservation. This animal can even be included in the "Red Book" of endangered species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Typically, the North giraffe has less than 4,750 heads, mesh-shaped giraffes are less than 8,700 heads - a rare species and one of the largest mammals that are at the highest risk of extinction. on the world.

The number of giraffes in Africa is declining sharply.

Mr. Fennessy hopes that the new discovery will contribute to attracting international sponsorship activities to strengthen the protection of these four deer strains.

According to the latest statistics, giraffes, as well as other wild animals in Africa, are plunging, from 150,000 to 100,000 in the past three decades.