Information is taken from the game and may change or differ over time. Last updated .
Unlocked at Accreditation Tier 1
Statistics
The Masai giraffe (or Giraffa tippelskirchi) is a species of giraffe that lives in the savannahs and open forests of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Masai giraffe is distinguished from other giraffe species through its spiky, leaf-shaped spots in dark brown to red colours divided by pale yellow interconnecting lines. Males have well-developed bony horns (ossicones) on their head, while the horns of the female are smaller and thinner.
Masai giraffes are extremely tall, with their characteristic long neck: males measure an average of 5.4m, and up to 5.8m, tall and weigh an average of 1,200kg and up to 1,300kg. Females measure 4.7m on average and weigh 800kg.
- The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world.
- The tongue of the giraffe is 45cm long and prehensile.
- Male giraffes fight viciously by swinging their necks and horned heads into each other to win the right to mate with females.
- The skin of the giraffe secretes chemicals that repels parasites and gives giraffes a distinctive smell.
- Giraffes have tough lips and strong jaws allow them to chew through thorns and tough leaves that many other herbivores avoid.
Habitat
Minimum habitat requirements
Planned population
Space
Barrier
Terrain
Environment
Preferred group ranges
Social
Masai giraffes live in fluid, fission-fusion social groups, meaning individuals frequently join or leave groups without developing strong bonds, and group composition changes regularly. These groups are often based on age, sex, or kinship. Females and their calves form loose associations, while males may be solitary or form temporary bachelor groups.
Food-based enrichment
Barrel Feeder - Hanging
Melon Feeder
Suspended High Grazer FeederToy enrichment
Gyro
Large Ball
Rubbing Pillar
Skittle
Release
Release requirements
Log in to track where you have released this species.
Mixed Group
Male Bachelor Herd
Maternal Family Group
Conservation
The Masai giraffe is Endangered. Over the past 30 years, populations have declined by more than 50% due to habitat loss, agricultural expansion, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching for meat, hide, and traditional medicine. Giraffes lose access to critical feeding and breeding areas due to human expansion, and political instability and insufficient enforcement of wildlife laws in parts of their range have made anti-poaching efforts more difficult.
Despite these challenges, there have been notable conservation successes. Some initiatives led by NGOs and national wildlife agencies have improved monitoring, protection, and community engagement. Enhanced understanding of movement patterns via GPS tracking and population surveys have improved habitat management, and reintroductions into protected areas have bolstered local population numbers. Additionally, the growth of community conservancies and eco-tourism has provided economic incentives for local communities to support conservation efforts.
Research
| Level | Unlocks | Bonus | Research gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thriving Requirement 1: at least 5 objects or plants with the Acacia Tree tag | ||
| 2 | Thriving Requirement 2: Smooth Rock terrain; Masai Giraffe Fact Sheet | ||
| 3 | Release groups and release to the wild | ||
| 4 | Thriving Requirement 3: Food Grade 2; Fertility Level 1 | Fertility (+15%) | Before this level: an Observation Network (Observation Platform) in Great Rift Valley Reserve and this species released in Great Rift Valley Reserve |
| 5 | Thriving Requirement 4: at least 8 objects or plants with the Spreading Crown tag | ||
| 6 | Thriving Requirement 5: African Savannah Social Group; Fertility Level 2 | Fertility (+30%) |
Conservation topics
Life
Reproduction
Lifecycle
Body
5.4 m
4.7 mBreeding
Masai giraffes mate year-round. Mature, solitary males approach female herds and sample their urine for signs of oestrus. Courtship includes fighting rival males and nuzzling the females until they allow him to mate.
Giraffes are pregnant for 13 to 15 months. Shortly before birth, a mother separates herself from her herd. She gives birth to one calf, though twins have occasionally been recorded, which drops 1.5m to the ground and can walk within an hour of being born. She keeps the calf hidden away in bushes, foraging alone, until it is about 3 weeks old. Then, mother and calf rejoin the herd. Giraffes begin eating solid food from 1 month old, though weaning is gradual and complete at 1 year old at the latest. Calves are closely bonded to their mother until they are around 18 months old, when they will begin to distance themselves.
Giraffes reach sexual maturity at around 4 years old. Young males leave their natal herd at 3 years old to join a bachelor herd, gradually becoming more solitary until they roam fully alone by around 7 years old. Females tend to remain with their mother’s herds, but may transfer to other herds occasionally through their lives.