For the next year a male giraffe weighing just over one ton will have its every move tracked in the name of science.

The giraffe was fitted with a GPS collar on Friday by researchers from the University of the Free State and Sanparks who will, for the first time, try to accurately establish the impact of giraffe on the environment.

The study was initiated by university lecturer Francois Beacon, and will form part of his PhD studies. It is carried out with the university's department of animal, wildlife and grassland sciences.

The giraffe, based at the Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate, north of Bloemfontein, seemed unfazed by its new accessory, Deacon said on Friday.

"We darted the giraffe and fitted the GPS collar around his neck in the space of about 15 minutes," he said.

"When it woke up it stood up and walked away as if nothing happened. We are relieved because I was concerned it might react like a puppy with a new leash. But he looks absolutely fine."

The GPS collar, costing more than R25000, will transmit hourly updates via satellite, relayingthe giraffe's movements and other data to Deacon and a team from Sanparks. This will include the animal's temperature, the speed at which it travels, its exact location and other information.

Deacon said it was important to do a proper study on giraffes as concerns had been raised about the impact a growing giraffe population had on vegetation in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape.

Although Sanparks has considered moving a number of giraffe from the area because of this, Deacon said this would be placed on hold until a proper study had been completed.

He said more animals would be included in the study once the results from the pilot project became available.

"It's wonderful that we can track the giraffe in real time. This will finally tell us what we need to know about the giraffe and its impact on its environment."