Giraffes Are Four Species As "Distinct As Brown And Polar Bears", Experts Say

Classifying animals is tricky but vitally important for conservation. Many species have undergone rejigs in their taxonomy, which can lead to better understanding of their behavior, ecology, and, crucially, help support protection goals both for local species and on a global level. Now, giraffes are the latest to get this treatment; 10 years after it was first proposed, four distinct species have been formally recognized. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

“This recognition is more than symbolic,” said Dr Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) Co-founder and Director of Conservation, in a statement sent to IFLScience. “Each giraffe species faces different threats, and now we can tailor conservation strateg