Giraffes could soon be listed on the endangered species list. U.S. wildlife officials say that’s because multiple species of giraffe populations are declining rapidly.
Researchers point to the loss of habitat, poaching and climate change in their native land in Africa. According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation about 117,000 wild giraffes are left worldwide – down almost 30% from the 1980s.
The population for the three subspecies of northern giraffe declined from 25,653 to 5,919, a 77% decrease since 1985. Listing many of the species as either endangered or threatened means they would receive federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Even though hunting giraffes is illegal in all but three countries in Africa, people still do it for meat and for trophy purposes.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, between 2006 and 2015, trophy hunters imported more than 3,700 giraffes into the U.S. The proposed rule would work toward cutting down illegal hunting and trade of giraffes by requiring a permit to import them into the U.S.
It would also expand funding for research and conservation efforts. A final decision on the endangered status of giraffes will happen in February.
