This popular zoo animal is about to join the endangered species list.
Giraffe populations in the wild savannas of Africa have experienced a dramatic decline, and it has become so severe that the U.S. government is now taking action to protect the animals.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced a proposal to add giraffes to the Endangered Species Act.
This will mark the first time the species would receive formal protection under the law.
The move aims to reduce giraffe poaching by limiting the importation of giraffe body parts and products, such as rugs, jewelry and shoes made from their remains. Those items are contributing to the ongoing decline of giraffe populations.
Giraffes are facing serious threats as the population has fallen sharply from more than 150,000 individuals in 1985 to around 98,000 in 2015.
The dramatic drop is largely attributed to habitat loss caused by urbanization, climate change-induced drought, poaching for bushmeat, and illegal trade.
Environmental advocates have praised the wildlife agency’s decision.
“Federal protections for giraffes will help protect a vulnerable species, foster biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said in the statement.
“This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring the United States does not contribute further to their decline.”
The proposal would significantly limit the commercial market for giraffe products entering the U.S., which is a major marketplace for wildlife products; limiting giraffe-related trade would help protect the species globally.
The move follows years of advocacy. In 2017, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and other environmental groups petitioned for protections.
After the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to act, environmentalists filed a lawsuit in 2021, resulting in a settlement that required the agency to decide on listing giraffes by November of this year.
The seven-year delay in protecting the giraffes highlights a broader issue.
With millions of species at risk of extinction, urgent action is needed to address the threats facing wildlife before it’s too late.
In response to these challenges, the U.S. proposal includes new funding opportunities for giraffe conservation in African countries.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting public feedback on the proposal until February 19, with plans to finalize it within the year.
