Poachers in Kenya kill rare white giraffe and calf

Kenya's only female white giraffe and her calf were reported dead on Tuesday at the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy in the country's northeastern county of Garissa. Reports by the Kenya Wildlife Service indicate that the giraffes were killed by poachers.

"We are investigating reports of the deaths of a white giraffe and a calf in Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy in Garissa County. Our teams on the ground have seen bones believed to be those of the two giraffes. "Our personnel on the ground are jointly working with community rangers and the conservancy management to establish the facts about the incident," said Ngugi Gecaga, head of corporate communication for the wildlife service.

According to Gecaga, the conservancy's management informed the wildlife service of the missing giraffe and calf after failing to see them for a prolonged period of time. Images shared on social media by the community show the giraffe was in a skeletal state.

"This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe. Its killing is a blow to tremendous steps by the community to conserve rare and unique species," Mohamed Ahmednoor, the manager of the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy, said in a statement.

In 2017, the white giraffe made headlines after its discovery, putting the secluded community conservancy in Garissa County on the global map. Described as one of a kind, the giraffe is believed to have suffered from a genetic condition called leucism, which inhibits skin cells from producing pigment.

"This is a long-term loss considering the genetics studies and research the giraffes attracted, which were a significant investment into the area. The white giraffe was a big boost to tourism," Ahmednoor said.