Population structure and spatial ecology of Kordofan giraffe in Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo

Garamba National Park harbors one of the last isolated populations of Kordofan giraffe, with urgent conservation action needed to protect its remaining 45 individuals. This study reveals that the population is female-dominated and adult-heavy, with a limited distribution concentrated in the park's south-central sector. Surprisingly large home ranges, averaging 934.3 km² using autocorrelated kernel density estimation (AKDE) and 268.8 km² using traditional kernel density estimation (KDE), were observed despite the park's high humidity. The research employed GPS satellite collars and direct observations from September 2016 to August 2017, utilizing Continuous-Time Movement Modeling (CTMM) to analyze distribution patterns and movement dynamics. These findings highlight critical insights for informed conservation strategies.

D’haen, M., Fennessy, J., Stabach, J. A., & Brandlová, K. (2019). Population structure and spatial ecology of Kordofan giraffe in Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Ecology and Evolution, 9(19), 11395–11405. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5640