Kariega Field Notes: Game Counts

Sometimes it is hard to determine the sex from a distance

We all participated in wildlife management game counts for herds of zebra and giraffe. We tried to determine the number of zebra in each individual herd, the number of females and males in each herd and the number of babies and juveniles.

If you can't get a close-up of their private parts, there are other indicators to look for that will help with the sometimes difficult sex determination. For example, male zebras usually have a shorter stripe going down their rump while the females have a longer stripe.

fuzzy horned female

With giraffes we only needed to log a total number during a specific period, not individual herds. The sex of the giraffe is a little easier to determine too. The horns of the female are fuzzier and the horns of the male are smoother.

me with Geoffrey the loner giraffe in the background

Male giraffes are usually a darker orange color than females as well. Geoffrey was everyone's favorite giraffe. He is very dark and is something of a loner. Tall, dark and handsome.