1. Giraffe populations have declined in abundance by almost 40% over the last three decades, and the geographic ranges of the species (previously believed to be one, now defined as four species) have been significantly reduced or altered. With substantial changes in land uses, loss of habitat, declining abundance, translocations, and data gaps, the existing geographic range maps for giraffe need to be updated.
2. We performed a review of existing giraffe range data, including aerial and ground observations of giraffe, existing geographic range maps, and available literature. The information we collected was discussed with and validated by subject‐matter experts. Our updates may serve to correct inaccuracies or omissions in the baseline map, or may reflect actual changes in the distribution of giraffe.
3. Relative to the 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Assessment range map, the updated geographic range maps show a 5.6% decline in the range area of all giraffe taxa combined. The ranges of Giraffa camelopardalis (northern giraffe) and Giraffa tippelskirchi (Masai giraffe) decreased in area by 37% (122432 km²) and 4.7% (20816 km²) respectively, whereas 14% (41696 km²) of the range of Giraffa reticulata (reticulated giraffe) had not been included in the original geographic range map and has now been added. The range of Giraffa giraffa (southern giraffe) showed little overall change; it increased by 0.1% (419 km²).
4. Ranges were larger than previously reported in six of the 21 range countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe), had declined in seven (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Niger, Uganda, and Zambia) and remained unchanged in seven (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Africa).
5. In Kenya, the ranges of both Giraffa tippelskirchi and Giraffa camelopardalis decreased, but the range of Giraffa reticulata was larger than previously believed.
6. Our updated range maps increase existing knowledge, and are important for conservation planning for giraffe. However, since rapid infrastructure development throughout much of Africa is a driver of giraffe population declines, there is an urgent need for a continent‐wide, consistent and systematic giraffe survey to produce more accurate range maps, in order to inform conservation and policy planning.

中文翻译：

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整个撒哈拉以南非洲长颈鹿（Giraffa spp。）的地理分布图，以及分布变化对保护的影响

1. 在过去的三十年中，长颈鹿的数量大量减少了近40％，并且该物种的地理范围（以前被认为是一种，现在被定义为四种）已大大减少或改变。随着土地用途的重大变化，栖息地的丧失，丰度下降，易位和数据空白，需要更新长颈鹿的现有地理范围图。
2. 我们对现有的长颈鹿范围数据进行了回顾，包括长颈鹿的空中和地面观测，现有的地理范围图以及可用的文献。我们与主题专家讨论并验证了我们收集的信息。我们的更新可能会纠正基线图中的不准确性或遗漏，或者可能反映出长颈鹿分布的实际变化。
3. 相对于2016年国际自然保护联盟红色名录评估范围图，更新的地理范围图显示所有长颈鹿类群的合并范围下降了5.6％。的范围长颈鹿（北部长颈鹿）和长颈鹿tippelskirchi（马赛长颈鹿）在面积减少了37％（122432公里²）和4.7％（20816公里²分别），而14％（41696公里²的范围内的）长颈鹿reticulata（网状长颈鹿）未包含在原始地理范围地图中，现在已添加。长颈鹿（Gifraffa giraffa）（南部长颈鹿）的分布范围几乎没有变化。它增加了0.1％（419 km ²）。
4. 在21个山脉国家（博茨瓦纳，埃塞俄比亚，莫桑比克，南苏丹，坦桑尼亚和津巴布韦）中，有6个山脉的山脉比以前报告的山脉更大，而在7个山脉（喀麦隆，中非共和国，乍得，马拉维，尼日尔，乌干达和赞比亚）下降了），而在七个国家（安哥拉，刚果民主共和国，斯威斯汀尼，纳米比亚，卢旺达，索马里和南非）则保持不变。
5. 在肯尼亚，Giraffa tippelskirchi和Giraffa camelopardalis的范围都减小了，但是网状Giraffa reticulata的范围却比以前认为的要大。
6. 我们更新的射程图增加了现有知识，对于长颈鹿的保护规划非常重要。但是，由于非洲大部分地区基础设施的快速发展是长颈鹿数量下降的驱动力，因此迫切需要对整个非洲大陆进行一致，系统的长颈鹿调查，以产生更准确的距离图，从而为保护和政策规划提供依据。