Association to Safeguard Giraffes in Niger
Encyclopedia
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, including ensuring the preservation of their habitat in the face of devastating agricultural expansion.
The ASGN was founded in 1996 with the objective of saving the last population of West African Giraffe
West African Giraffe
The West African Giraffe, Niger Giraffe or Nigerian Giraffe is a subspecies of giraffe distinguished by its light colored spots, which is found in the Sahel regions of West Africa...
s in Niger, a highly endangered species.
When the society was formed there were only 50 individuals of the species surviving in the country.
The ASGN managed to obtain the establishment of a protected zone for giraffes in the Kouré
Kouré, Niger
Kouré is a rural community located east of Niamey, the capital of Niger. The town lies on both sides of the road from Niamey to Dallol Bosso.Kouri is best known for West African Giraffes , endemic subspecies of West Africa....
region within which all poaching is prohibited. The society encourages eco-tourism, employing local people as far as possible.
By 2007 a total of 164 giraffes were counted in the park.
ASGN and its partners have assisted the local community with bore holes, cereal banks, grain mills, seeds and fertilizer to encourage them to protect the giraffes, which can be destructive to crops.
However, the population of giraffes is threatened by loss of its habitat, the tiger bush, which is gradually being cleared for agriculture.
The African Wildlife Foundation
African Wildlife Foundation
The African Wildlife Foundation , founded in 1961 as the African Wildlife Leadership Foundation, is an international conservation organization that focuses on critically important landscapes in Africa....
(AWF) partners with the ASGN in conservation efforts.
The AWF is helping with reforestration.
In August 2010, a tree nursery in Kouré produced about 3,500 seedlings. AWF planned to establish another nursery in the area in 2011.