The Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), in partnership with Angola's National Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas (INBAC), has successfully reintroduced 12 Angolan giraffes to Bicuar National Park, marking another major milestone in the country's ambitious wildlife restoration programme.
The translocation, which saw the founder population moved from Namibia, forms part of Angola's newly approved National Giraffe Conservation Action Plan (2026–2030), aimed at restoring the species to its historic range after decades of decline caused by civil conflict, habitat degradation and poaching.
According to GCF, the initiative builds on the successful reintroduction of Angolan giraffe to Iona National Park in 2023 and 2024 and represents a significant step in restoring Bicuar's ecological integrity.
GCF Co-Founder and Director of Conservation, Dr Julian Fennessy, said the project goes far beyond bringing back a single species.
"Reintroducing Angolan giraffe is about far more than restoring a species – it is about repairing functional ecosystems," he said.
"With only 140 000 giraffe remaining across Africa and an estimated 15 600 Angolan giraffe left, this reintroduction comes at a pivotal moment."
He explained that giraffe play a crucial ecological role by shaping vegetation through browsing, creating habitats that support a wide range of other species while symbolising environmental recovery.
The release follows extensive habitat suitability and feasibility assessments conducted by GCF and INBAC in 2025, which confirmed Bicuar National Park as an ideal location for the species' return.
GCF said that to strengthen the long-term viability of the new population, the 12 giraffes were carefully selected from two separate properties in Namibia to maximise genetic diversity.
Each animal has been fitted with a solar-powered GPS satellite collar, allowing conservation teams to remotely monitor movement patterns, habitat use and home-range establishment as the animals adapt to their new environment.
The first translocation represented the initial phase of a long-term recovery programme, with additional giraffe expected to be introduced in the coming years to establish a self-sustaining population.
According to GCF, the Bicuar project forms part of a broader national conservation vision. Feasibility studies have identified other former giraffe strongholds, including Kissama National Park and Chimalavera Regional Park, as future reintroduction sites, subject to available funding.
GCF Co-Founder and Executive Director Stephanie Fennessy said continued financial support will be critical to the programme's success.
"This ongoing initiative requires significant funding for cross-border logistics, veterinary support, satellite tracking and ground-based park monitoring," she said.
"With continued financial support, we can ensure that a thriving, self-sustaining population of Angolan giraffe once again roams the savannahs of Bicuar National Park for generations to come."
She added that GCF's conservation approach is straightforward: "Saving giraffe is pretty simple – more giraffe in more habitat."
The successful translocation not only restores one of Angola's most iconic species but also strengthens regional conservation cooperation between Angola and Namibia while advancing efforts to rebuild healthy, resilient ecosystems across southern Africa.
