The Giraffe Grand Slam?

[RLD]

For those who like to finish collections or "quests" for things like the turkey grand slam, scientists have now classified giraffes into four separate species so one could technically do a Giraffe Grand Slam.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2l7wxpxn0eo

 

[FlyGuy]

You could, but I don’t think all the species are available for hunting.
Would make a very interesting collection though.

 

[dchum]

Maybe to photograph… can’t hunt any of the non southern ones.

Is this news? I thought the different giraffe species had been well established. Classic dumb BBC

 

[375Fox]

There will never be hunting for any subspecies other than southern giraffe. Cameroon they are endangered. Uganda is restocking them to areas. Tanzania has lots of giraffe, but they are a protected species. You could maybe call the giraffe in NW Namibia different but I think it’s a stretch.

 

[RLD]

Maybe to photograph… can’t hunt any of the non southern ones.

Is this news? I thought the different giraffe species had been well established. Classic dumb BBC

Nope. The report making the finding is dated August 2025.

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://iucn.org/sites/default/files/2025-08/gosgtaxonomictask-force_iucn_giraffetaxonomyassessment_final.pdf

You might be confusing it with previous discussions of giraffe subspecies or populations. Very different than speciation.

 

[dchum]

1899: The Reticulated subspecies was described and given a binomial name, Giraffa reticulata, by British zoologist William Edward de Winton


I might just be arguing about different things. So I will agree you are correct - since you even went as far sight a source

most people don’t need a BBC article to know that the reticulated giraffe is different than the southern giraffe people see in most parts of Southern Africa.
You will find most African “slams” have not much to do with science. Rather described regional subspecies. It is always an interesting discussion and I learn a lot.
Go on your 2026 safari and you inform your PH they just decided this August that there are different giraffe species. He will get a kick.

Either way I hope to learn more about proper taxonomy - I just think it’s a bit silly

 

[spike.t]

Four giraffe species officially recognised in major conservation reclassification – IUCN report

iucn.org

 

[RLD]

1899: The Reticulated subspecies was described and given a binomial name, Giraffa reticulata, by British zoologist William Edward de Winton


I might just be arguing about different things. So I will agree you are correct - since you even went as far sight a source

most people don’t need a BBC article to know that the reticulated giraffe is different than the southern giraffe people see in most parts of Southern Africa.


You will find most African “slams” have not much to do with actual published science. Rather described regional subspecies. It is always an interesting discussion and I learn a lot.

We are talking about two different things. Species and subspecies are two different categories in taxonomy.

For people (like me) who geek out on this stuff in evolutionary biology, it can be a big deal. Just like people into astronomy can get all wound up over whether or not Pluto is a planet.

If you really want to go down a rabbit hole on this stuff, the OG version of species would suggest that this whole newer criteria in the classification system is bogus and there really is only one species of giraffe with regional populations or subspecies. But, more or less, these folks get to make the official call.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Pluto was robbed!