Why the giraffe is in danger of extinction

The giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis ) is a species of mammal belonging to the genus Giraffa typical of the African continent . Its long neck is characteristic of this genus , which makes it the tallest animal of all land animals that exist today, being able to reach 5.8 meters in height, and its horns and long tongue are also a unique feature. bluish. In addition, they can weigh between 750 and 1600 kg and are one of the animals that sleep on their feet most of the time and that sleep little time a day.

Giraffes inhabit savannas , grasslands, and open forests throughout their range from Chad to South Africa and from Niger to Somalia. They are herbivorous animals and their diet is based on acacia leaves, which they take from the highest areas of these trees thanks to their long necks and which are inaccessible to other herbivorous species.

Among its main predators are lions, which hunt adult specimens, and leopards, hyenas and wild dogs, which hunt their young.

Due to their unique appearance, giraffes have attracted the attention of many cultures throughout history, which is why they have been frequently depicted in paintings, books, and drawings.

The taxonomy of giraffes is unclear. Based on genetic studies, some authors consider four current species of the genus Giraffa that differ according to the patterns of their fur spots: Giraffa camelopardalis, G. reticulata, G. tippelskirchi and G. giraffa. However, in the IUCN Red List (the International Union for Conservation of Nature), or in English IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, only one species is recognized, Giraffa camelopardalis , with nine subspecies, although this classification is questioned by some agencies.

According to the IUCN, in 2016 the Giraffa camelopardalis increased in severity in terms of its conservation status. It went from being classified on the Red List as a species of least concern in 2008 and 2010 to being a vulnerable species because its population had decreased by up to 40% in three generations (from 1985 to 2015).

If we want to talk about figures, it is estimated that in 1985 there were a total of between 151,702 and 162,452 giraffes, while in 2015 the total figure was estimated at 97,562 individuals. For this reason, the giraffe is protected in most of the territory where it is distributed.

Experts from the Kenya Wildlife Service are aware of the current status of this species and warn of the potential risk of extinction. In general, some populations are stable and increasing while others are in decline, although the current general trend is a reduction in the number of individuals. In addition, each of them is subject to different pressures and threats specific to the region in which they are located.

Broadly speaking, the four main causes that giraffes are in a vulnerable and endangered state :

• Loss of habitat due to deforestation , land use change, expansion of agricultural and livestock activities, and human population growth.
• Civil unrest and problems, such as ethnic violence, rebel militias, or military and paramilitary operations.
• Ecological changes such as mining, the conversion of its habitat for agriculture or processes caused by the weather.
• The illegal or poaching , since they are frequent targets for hunters in Africa.

This last point is very relevant, since the different parts of the giraffe’s body are in high demand: the meat is used as a food source, the tail is used as a fly swatter and the hair for bracelets and thread. Its skin is also used to make shields, sandals and clothes or drums, and the tendons have been used in strings for musical instruments.

But this does not stop here, apparently the healers of Buganda used the smoke that was formed during the burning of giraffes’ skin to treat nosebleeds and the liver and bone marrow is used in the elaboration of a drink called Umm Nyolokh that is consumed in the town of the Humr of Sudan.

However, in the nineteenth century giraffe hunting began as a hobby, one of the great current problems that are killing a large number of wild species because of human frivolity.

The basic protection measures that are being used in the face of the decrease in the giraffe population are:

• Guarantee their habitats by strengthening and protecting them.
• Administration of the strength of their populations to prevent them from continuing to decline.
• Education of the population that instills the values ​​necessary to create the need to conserve one of the most iconic animals in the world.

Another measure that is proving effective is the creation of natural sanctuaries, which create in society this need that we are commenting on to know and understand these animals, which are also one of the most important tourist attractions in Kenyan parks. In this way, they insist on the importance of containing the threats that endanger them, as well as on the collaboration of different organizations for their sustainability.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why the giraffe is in danger of extinction , we recommend that you enter our category of Endangered Animals .