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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sean Morrison

World’s only known white giraffe fitted with GPS tracker to deter poachers

The giraffe has a rare genetic trait called leucism, which causes a white colour (Picture: AP)

The only known white giraffe in the world has been fitted with a GPS tracking device to help protect it from poachers in Kenya.

It is now alone after a female and her calf were killed by poachers in March, the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy said on Tuesday.

A rare genetic trait called leucism causes the white colour.

This makes the one surviving giraffe stand out dangerously for poachers in the arid savannah, near the Somalia border.

Now the GPS tracking device will ping every hour to alert wildlife rangers to its location.

It is attached to one of the giraffe's horns.

The conservancy has thanked the Kenya Wildlife Service along with the Northern Rangelands Trust and Save Giraffes Now for the help. 

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