Old records and historic eyewitness accounts of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in the Kalahari, led to the decision by park management to reintroduce giraffe in 1991. Twenty years ago (1991) the translocation of 8 giraffe from the Etosha National Park took place to an area in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park which there is limited information as to their adaptation success or potential impact on the environment. The giraffe was transported to a specially built boma measuring a few hundred hectares in size at the Craig Lockhart waterhole 17 km from the Mata Mata rest camp. The giraffe adapted well to their new surroundings and their numbers increased to 18 during the period 1991 to 1999. During this time, it was decided to remove the boma fencing and allow the giraffe free rein in the park. The key food species of giraffe in the Auo briverbed is Acacia haematoxylon, and there is concern regarding the increased impact of a growing giraffe population on A. haematoxylon.
