US Officials Propose Endangered Species Status for Giraffes

Eyelean the giraffe at Sydney Zoo in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 24, 2020. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said on Nov. 20 that it is proposing federal protections for several giraffe species in response to their declining populations, caused by a combination of poaching, habitat loss, and the impacts of droughts.

In a Nov. 20 statement, the agency proposed listing all three subspecies of northern giraffe from west, central, and east Africa as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, following what it said was a review of “the best available scientific and commercial information.”

Under the act, which went into effect in 1973, federal agencies must ensure their actions do not jeopardize the continued existence of any listed threatened or endangered plants, animals, or the critical habitats in which they live.

The three subspecies of northern giraffes proposed for the endangered list are the West African, Kordofan, and Nubian giraffes.

According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the population of these northern giraffe subspecies has declined by about 77 percent since 1985, dropping from 25,653 to 5,919, and the species has been extirpated from several countries in West Africa.

There are now only 690 West African giraffes remaining, the agency said.

An endangered species is defined under the act as “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” A threatened species is defined as “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”

The agency also proposed listing the reticulated giraffe and the Masai giraffe as threatened “with tailored protections under the 4(d) rule“ of the Endangered Species Act.

About 99 percent of the reticulated giraffe population is found in Kenya, and their population is estimated to be about 15,985, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Masai giraffe population is estimated to be about 45,402, about 67 percent of its numbers from the 1970s, the agency said.

Giraffes, the tallest terrestrial animals and the largest ruminants on Earth, inhabit a variety of ecosystems, including desert landscapes, woodlands, and savannas, across Africa.

They primarily consume leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits.

The proposed rule, if finalized, aims to reduce illegal hunting and trade of the animals by requiring permits for import into the United States, and would increase funding for species conservation and research as part of efforts to raise global awareness about their declining populations.

The rule would also help provide limited financial assistance to develop and manage programs to conserve giraffes, the agency said.

“Federal protections for giraffes will help protect a vulnerable species, foster biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said. “This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring the United States does not contribute further to their decline.”

The agency’s proposed rule will be open for public comment for 90 days until Feb. 19, 2025.