Reticulated giraffe mother greeting calf, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

© Sean Crane/Minden Picture

Spot-on connection. Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

Giraffes have fascinated travellers from around the world for a long time. These animals were viewed as symbols of status and treasured as pets among royalty. Featured here are reticulated giraffes, found mostly in the Kenyan wild at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, where they roam with poise under the vast African sky. Established in 1995, this sanctuary has become a haven for these gentle giants, distinguished by their vividly tessellated coats, and polygonal-shaped spots that extend onto the lower legs, tail and face. Unfortunately, only around 16,000 reticulated giraffes remain in the wild, less than half of the approximately 36,000 recorded in the 1980s. Nevertheless, recent years have observed a promising trend in northern Kenya, where populations are rebounding thanks to places like the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. So, let's pledge to protect these creatures and their habitats.