Giraffes, the tallest animals on Earth, are facing an increasing risk of extinction due to various threats, including habitat destruction, poaching, urban expansion, and the adverse effects of climate change, such as droughts. In response to these challenges, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has taken a historic step by proposing to list several giraffe subspecies under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), marking the first time the species would receive federal protection in the U.S.
The proposal aims to classify three subspecies of northern giraffes—the West African, Kordofan, and Nubian giraffes—as “endangered,” indicating they are at immediate risk of extinction. Additionally, the Masai and reticulated giraffes, found in East Africa, are being considered for listing as “threatened,” suggesting they are likely to face endangerment in the near future.
“Federal protections for giraffes will help safeguard this vulnerable species, promote biodiversity, and ensure healthy ecosystems,” said Martha Williams, Director of the FWS. “This initiative will also ensure that the U.S. does not contribute further to their decline.”
Giraffe populations have drastically decreased in recent decades, with numbers dropping from around 150,000 in 1985 to an estimated 117,000 today. The West African, Kordofan, and Nubian subspecies have experienced the steepest decline, with their populations falling by 77%, leaving fewer than 6,000 individuals remaining in the wild.
The U.S. has become a major market for giraffe parts, with nearly 40,000 giraffe-related items—including hunting trophies and products made from giraffe skins—imported between 2006 and 2015. Tanya Sanerib, legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, praised the proposal, emphasizing that it would significantly reduce the commercial market for giraffe products, which has played a key role in their decline.
