The South African giraffe

The South African giraffe (G. c. giraffa) is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and southwestern Mozambique.[22] It has dark,

somewhat rounded patches “with some fine projections” on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller as they do. The median lump

of males is less developed.[30]:52 A maximum of 31,500 are estimated to remain in the wild,[22] and around 45 are kept in zoos.[31]

The Masai giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi) can be found in central and southern Kenya and in Tanzania.[22] It has distinctive, irregular, jagged, star-

like blotches which extend to the hooves. A median lump is usually present in males.[30]:54[43] A total of 32,550 are thought to remain in the wild,[22] and about 100 are kept in zoos.[31]

Thornicroft’s giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti) is restricted to the Luangwa Valley in eastern Zambia.[22] The patches are notched and somewhat star-shaped, and may

or may not extend across the legs. The median lump of males is underdeveloped.[30]:54 No more than 550 remain in the wild,[22] with none kept in zoos.[31]