Are Giraffes Endangered? Myths and Truths Explained

Are giraffes endangered? We’ll take a closer look at the world’s tallest mammals along with the misconceptions you might still believe about them.

With legs taller than most humans on earth and a running speed of over 35 miles per hour, the long-necked, spotted giraffe is an animal that’s hard to miss. Like many other African mammals, giraffes are facing conservation issues. However, unlike the majority of ‘well-known’ endangered species, the conservation status of the giraffe is not so clear-cut. Are giraffes endangered? There are many misconceptions about what threats giraffes face and if they can even be classed as endangered or not. Learn more about these beautiful giants below.

Giraffes: The Basics

Giraffes, or giraffa camelopardalis, are one of the most iconic safari animals. Usually found in the savannah areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, the giraffe seeks out areas of vegetation where their long necks allow them to eat leaves and greenery at much higher levels than any other animal on earth. This keystone species eats a herbivore diet, the giraffe’s great height helps them to look over the savannah and avoid becoming the victim of their most significant predators, including lions and other big cats.

Although typically referred to as just ‘giraffe’, there are in fact four different species and seven subspecies. These include the Northern giraffe, the Southern giraffe, the Reticulated giraffe, and the Masai giraffe. Giraffes are also very social animals, living in groups of up to 20 and roaming in areas as small as 33 miles. 

Are Giraffes Endangered?

Are giraffes endangered? To answer this question, we first have to look at how many giraffes are actually left in the wild.

Overall, it is estimated that there are around 68,000 giraffes in the wild, with the captive population being about 1,600. Despite this number of giraffes being considerably higher than other endangered species (the snow leopard has a population of less than seven thousand), they are unfortunately still considered endangered.

According to the IUCN Red List, all subspecies of giraffes were classed as vulnerable in 2016 after being previously labeled as a ‘Least Concern’ from 2008 to 2010. Two subspecies of the giraffe, the Rothschild and West African giraffes, were even upgraded to endangered. This increased vulnerability is even more concerning when you look at the statistics, as the number of wild giraffes is suggested to have dropped by nearly 40 percent in the last 15 years.

What is the cause of this drastic population drop? Like many Sub-Saharan animals, the giraffe’s plight is believed to result from human encroachment on their native habitats and poaching. As they require a high amount of vegetation each day, losses of habitat are particularly damaging to the giraffe. Conversion of woodland and trees for ranching and charcoal farming in West Africa has depleted much of the giraffe’s natural habitat. Conflict and war in these habitats such as Sudan have not helped these numbers, with rates of giraffe poaching and animal trafficking shown to have increased during periods of unrest. Giraffe bone marrow and brain are believed by some to be a cure for HIV/AIDS, with parts of a poached giraffe known to fetch over $140 for use as an alternative medicine.

In addition, giraffes are seemingly quite susceptible to disease. One mystery condition that causes grey lesions in the giraffe’s skin is particularly concerning, as scientists have yet to find a cure nor the cause behind this illness.

Misconceptions About Giraffe Conservation

Although it seems fairly straightforward, there are several misconceptions surrounding the endangerment of giraffes and their conservation.

In particular, the idea that giraffes were not previously under threat or have only become vulnerable in the last few years is often claimed as fact. Unfortunately, the giraffe’s plight is much greater than you’d think. This misconception has a tragic origin, as giraffes were previously not given much conservation attention. Unlike less well-known species, it was taken for granted that this iconic animal was exempt from becoming vulnerable. This has led to a so-called ‘silent extinction’ of giraffe populations in countries such as Mali and Eritrea.  

Another misconception about giraffes is that this lack of previous attention means nothing is being done to protect giraffes in the present. Fortunately, this is not true. Not only is there now research into the diseased-based factors causing the population to decline, but multiple organizations are working to track giraffe numbers, increase anti-poaching protection laws and promote conservation education. In 2017, the ESA successfully challenged the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for failing to recognize the giraffe’s potentially endangered status sooner, resulting in its vulnerability getting greater worldwide attention.

Despite there still being an uphill battle to go before the giraffe’s vulnerability is fully recognized, many organizations are doing vital work to make sure that the giraffe doesn’t face ‘silent extinction’ once again.

Read more:

• The 15 Most Endangered Animals in America
• Environmental Organizations: 8 NGOs and Non-Profits Worth Supporting
• Should Zoos be Banned? It’s Complicated

** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.

Tags: Animals Conservation Endangered Species Guide

[contextly_main_module]

WANT MORE SUBSTAINABLE NEWS?

* I have read and accept the privacy policy. In particular I recognize the performance measurement included in the consent, the logging and my rights of Revocation. (*mandatory)

Leave this field empty if you're human: