Dwarf giraffes discovered in Namibia and Uganda

Researchers and scientists for the first time have come across two rare dwarf giraffes in Namibia and Uganda

Giraffes are known to all for their height which helps them survive in the wild and they can reach up to 20 feet in height but in 2015 Conservation scientists found a 9-foot 3-inch giraffe in a Ugandan wildlife park. three years later, on the opposite side of the continent, they found an 8 1/2-foot giraffe in Namibia.

Scientists say the reason for these dwarf giraffes is due to a condition was called skeletal dysplasia, or dwarfism, which was a result of abnormalities in bone development. Both giraffes found had long necks but their legs were far shorter and thicker than regular giraffes.

Findings of these animals were published in the British Medical Journal in December. The report said while captive animals living with skeletal dysplasias usually have lower survival rates, as the giraffes are over the age of one it should not impact their longevity.

However poaching and the shrinking of these animal’s natural habitats have caused giraffe numbers to decline by 40 percent in just 30 years, according to the African Wildlife Foundation. Read more about some of Africa’s endangered animals here