Images Dated 8th September 2009

Giraffes, mother feeding baby, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulate), also known as the Somali giraffe, is a species of giraffe native to the Horn of Africa. It lives in Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. There are approximately 8, 500 individuals living in the wild. The reticulated giraffe was described and given its binomial name by British zoologist William Edward de Winton in 1899, however the IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies. Reticulated giraffes can interbreed with other giraffe species in captivity or if they come into contact with populations of other species in the wild. Together with the Rothschilds giraffe, it is by far the giraffe most commonly seen in zoos. Its coat consists of large, polygonal, liver colored spots outlined by a network of bright white lines. The blocks may sometimes appear deep red and may also cover the legs

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