This is due to more effective and accurate counting of individual animals. Reticulateds f.i. have doubled in number due to better monitoring and this has demonstrated higher numbers rather than a net increase in numbers and populations.
Genuine increases, due to conservation actions, have been advanced to explain the higher numbers of Giraffes (even in the countries where they are most imperiled, as Niger and Chad... sometimes thanks to the proactive action of zoos), as well as the improvement of monitoring methods.
That, my friend, is rather just a part of the story ... really the gist being that in the face of better understanding about populations of reticulated (85%) and Masai giraffe (44%) a.o. across their range. The better monitoring and counting has increased the size of giraffe total estimate by as much as 20% now. Some of this is through better protection and genuine increases, but a good part is also due to better monitoring research and improved tools and data from the most unexpected places. All around there is a positive trend to be seen across Africa for giraffe. That is something worth celebrating, I agree.
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