WASHINGTON - In response to declining giraffe populations caused by poaching, habitat loss and climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change , the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing federal protections for several giraffe species. After reviewing the best available scientific and commercial information, the Service proposes listing all three subspecies of northern giraffe from west, central and east Africa as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also proposes listing two giraffe species from east Africa as threatened with tailored protections through a 4(d) rule.
The Service proposes the following listings:
- West African, Kordofan and Nubian giraffes as endangered.
- Reticulated giraffe as threatened with a 4(d) rule.
- Masai giraffe as threatened with a 4(d) rule.
The Service also finds that both subspecies of southern giraffe (Angolan and South African) are not warranted for listing under the ESA. However, given their similarity of appearance to other giraffe species, the Service proposes to treat the southern giraffe subspecies as threatened with a 4(d) rule.
“Federal protections for giraffes will help protect a vulnerable species, foster biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring the United States does not contribute further to their decline.”
The proposed rule, if finalized, will benefit giraffes by:
- Reducing illegal hunting and trade of giraffes by requiring permits for import into the U.S.
- Increasing funding for species conservation in its range countries, research efforts to address conservation needs and U.S. and global awareness about the decline in giraffes.
- Providing limited financial assistance to develop and manage programs to conserve giraffes.
The primary threats to giraffes include human population growth; habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation due to urbanization; poaching; and impacts of drought from climate change that increase human-wildlife conflicts. Giraffes are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora primarily because their populations are vulnerable to threats from habitat loss, illegal hunting, and the international trade of giraffe parts. While trade is not the primary cause of the decline of wild giraffe populations, trade may have an additive effect when combined with the main causes of habitat loss and poaching. Giraffes are valued for their hair, tails, and use in traditional medicine, but in recent years they have been increasingly targeted by hunters and poachers for bushmeat.
The population for the three subspecies of northern giraffe has declined approximately 77% since 1985, from 25,653 to 5,919 individuals, and the species has been extirpated from numerous countries in west Africa. Only 690 West African giraffes remain.
The reticulated giraffe population is estimated at 15,985 individuals, with 99% found in Kenya. The Masai giraffe population is around 45,402, roughly 67% of its numbers from the 1970s.
Giraffes are the tallest living terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on Earth. Giraffes’ primary activity is feeding, and they consume a variety of leaves, stems, flowers and fruits. Giraffes are versatile and have adapted to a variety of habitats, ranging from desert landscapes to woodland and savanna ecosystems, forming a wide arc across sub-Saharan Africa, covering west, central, east and southern Africa. Giraffes are most often found in savanna and woodland habitats and always near trees or bushes. Northern, reticulated, Masai and southern giraffes occur in multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on Nov. 21, 2024, and be open for public comment for 90 days. The Service will review and consider all comments received by Feb. 19, 2025, before publishing a final rule. Please go to www.regulations.gov, docket no.FWS-HQ-ES-2024-0157.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov and connect with us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), LinkedIn, Flickr and YouTube.
