They are beloved the world over for their long necks and the unmistakable patterns of their hides, but giraffes are in real trouble. Giraffe populations have been dropping dramatically, falling by about 40 percent over the last 30 years, causing conservation officials to raise alarms about its plight. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently added the giraffe to its Red List of Threatened Species, adjusting the animal’s status from “least concern” to “vulnerable.”
There are an estimated 97,000 giraffes in the world, down from 163,000 in 1985. The causes for this alarming drop include habitat loss, civil unrest, and illegal hunting. All are to blame, according to a statement released by the IUCN, in what they describe as a “silent extinction.”
It may seem hard to believe. The truth is that, despite being a common sight on safaris as well as in zoos around the world, the endangered giraffe is at risk of disappearing. Their visibility also makes it all the more difficult for the IUCN to convince people of their plight. Yet, their declining numbers are apparent in places like East, Central, and West Africa.
There are nine subspecies of giraffe. Five of the endangered giraffes are suffering a serious decline, one is showing stable numbers, and three are showing an increase in population. Poaching is a major concern for proponents of the giraffe, but their plight has been overshadowed by that of more extremely endangered animals like the elephant and rhinoceros. The drop in giraffe population came as a shock, even to those who monitor their numbers.
“With a decline of almost 40 percent in the last three decades alone, the world’s tallest animal is under severe pressure in some of its core ranges,” says Julian Fennessy, IUCN Species Survival Commission co-chair. “As one of the world’s most iconic animals, it is timely that we stick our neck out for the giraffe before it is too late.”
Featured Image from Ahmed Galal/Unsplash
