Neckless Giraffes Found in Serengeti

“This could be something to do with global warming because many tall trees have died off and giraffes no longer need to have long necks.

“The good thing about not having an elongated neck like a regular giraffe is that these new giraffes can run almost as fast as gazelles, so they can escape predators easier and are not as cumbersome as their long-necked counterparts.

“We’re just confused at how quickly some of these giraffes have evolved to adapt to their surroundings,” Dr. Derrick Hammond, a zoologist studying the new species revealed.

The new giraffes (Giraffa noneckus) have already been named and the Tanzanian authorities are protecting the ones that have been discovered as they can be easy prey for poachers and trophy hunters.

“We have to be careful as these neckless creatures are a real rarity and there is huge demand to either capture or shoot them as trophies by unscrupulous hunters.” Abasi Dengo, a Tanzanian official told the state news service.

Billionaire zoo keeper, Ronald McTavish, has put in a bid to house and breed some of the neckless giraffes in his zoo in Scotland. It is yet to be clear whether he will be allowed to procure the animals, as they need special care.