Researchers from Zurich explain the reasons: Climate change threatens giraffes differently than expected

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The researchers from the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Pennsylvania State University in the US gave several reasons for this in a UZH statement on Monday. On the one hand, pathogens such as parasites and viruses spread better during heavy rainfall and flooding, on the other hand, the muddy terrain makes the fight against poachers more difficult.

The study also found that greener vegetation reduced the survival rate of adult giraffes. Possibly because faster leaf growth reduces the quality of nutrients.

The researchers arrived at these results by following the fate of 2,385 giraffes in Tanzania over an eight-year period. They compared these results with data on precipitation, vegetation cover and temperature. In rainy seasons, the Maasai giraffes were less likely to survive.

However, to the surprise of the researchers, higher temperatures had a positive effect on the giraffes. They actually expected that the animals could overheat due to their body size, the UZH writes in the statement. But several physical traits seem to help the animals stay cool.

These are, for example, the long neck and long legs, on which heat evaporates. But giraffes also have specialized nasal cavities, a complex network of arteries that supply blood to the brain, and a pattern of spots that radiate heat.

However, study leader Derek Lee of Pennsylvania State University warns against jumping to conclusions. It may well be that temperatures during the study period did not rise above the temperature range that giraffes can tolerate and that an extreme heat wave could harm the animals.

(SDA)

Source: Blick