This popular zoo animal is about to be included in the endangered species list.
Giraffe populations in Africa’s wild savannas have declined dramatically, and it has become so severe that the US government is now taking action to protect the animals.
US Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced Proposal to add giraffes to the Endangered Species Act.
This will be the first time this species will receive formal protection under law.
The move aims to reduce giraffe poaching by limiting the import of products such as rugs, jewelry and shoes made from giraffe body parts and their remains. Those items are contributing to the continued decline of giraffe populations.
Giraffes are facing serious threats as their population has declined from more than 150,000 in 1985 to about 98,000 in 2015.
The main reasons for this dramatic decline are habitat loss due to urbanization, climate change-induced drought, poaching for wild meat, and illegal trade.
Environmental advocates have praised the wildlife agency’s decision.
“Federal protections for giraffes help protect a vulnerable species, promote 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. Will help to give.”
AFP via Getty Images
“This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring that the United States does not further contribute to their decline.”
This proposal would significantly limit the commercial market for giraffe products entering the US, a major market for wildlife products; Limiting giraffe-related trade will help protect the species globally.
This step has been taken after years of advocacy. In 2017, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and other environmental groups petitioned for protection.
After the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to act, environmentalists filed a lawsuit in 2021, resulting in a settlement that required the agency to make a decision on delisting the giraffes by November of this year.
The seven-year delay in protecting giraffes highlights a wider issue.
As millions of species are at risk of extinction, urgent action is needed to tackle the threats facing wildlife before it is too late.
In response to these challenges, the US proposal includes new funding opportunities for giraffe conservation in African countries.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on the proposal by Feb. 19, and plans to finalize it within the year.
