Mapping the spatial configuration and severity of giraffe skin disease in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania (original) (raw)

Mapping the spatial configuration and severity of giraffe skin disease in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

MAPPING THE SPATIAL CONFIGURATION AND SEVERITY OF GIRAFFE SKIN DISEASE IN RUAHA NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA By Arthur Bienvenu Muneza Giraffe numbers, have dropped by about 40% in the last 20 years, making giraffes a species of conservation concern. In the same period of time, a skin disease has been observed in numerous giraffe populations across Africa. The disease, commonly referred to as giraffe skin disease (GSD), manifests as lesions, wrinkled skin, and encrustations that can affect the limbs, shoulder or neck of giraffes. Giraffe skin disease may hinder movement causing increased susceptibility to predation. In chapter 1, I reviewed GSD cases from literature reports and surveying efforts of individuals working with giraffes in the wild and in captivity in order to compile a database of known GSD cases. I detected variation in the manifestation, prevalence and severity of GSD in sub-Saharan Africa and giraffe populations in captivity. In chapter 2, I used photographic capture-reca...