Giraffe: In the process of a ‘silent extinction’
This is a post I did not want to make.
I like to consider myself updated on environmental issues.
I thought giraffes were abundant throughout Africa, but I recently became aware of that the giraffe population has plummeted in recent years and is now a ‘vulnerable’ species.
Giraffe made a Red List debut in December 2016 as the IUCN warns that the world’s tallest animal are in the process of a ‘silent extinction’.
Over 700 newly recognized bird species have been assessed for the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and 11% of them are threatened with extinction. The update also reveals a devastating decline for the giraffe, driven by habitat loss, civil unrest and illegal hunting. The global giraffe population has plummeted by up to 40% over the last 30 years, and the species has now been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
It is only 80 0000 left.
Giraffes are very curious animals and are very easily killed.
Humans hunt giraffes for their hides and meat.
Giraffe tails are highly prized by many African cultures.
Giraffes are used as bush meat, especially in war zones.
They are typically caught in snares or caught at night when they are blinded by bright spotlight and slaughtered from behind by machetes.
A single giraffe alone may produce up to 300 kg of meat.
The price is often around half the price of beef and lamb.
They supposedly have a very sweet taste.
Bush meat has become a big commercial industry and six-million tons of bush meat are extracted each year, according to the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).
The Elephant or the Giraffe in the room, is that population growth is the biggest problem the world and the human race faces.
More people increase the demand for bush meat.
The number of giraffes in the wild is also shrinking as their habitats shrink. As human populations grow giraffes are quickly losing their living spaces, because it is losing its beloved acacia trees, which are its main source of food.
The future for the African wild life does not look very bright with a huge increase in the African population.
Luckily, there are some initiative like to Giraffe Conservation Foundation (giraffeconservation.org) that have projects around Africa.
You can even adopt your own giraffe for $50!
Hopefully, there is still hope for the tallest animal in the world
nice but sad sharing :( please follow me at my blog @faheemahmad and i will follow you back
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Just post original and good content. Check your grammar and you will be fine:)
thank you dear :)
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This is sad news,i have upvoted and followed you,people can be so cruel at times to animals and even other humans,lets hope something changes for the better for all animals in harms way 😢
Let's hope so:)!
I didn't know that either and I was shocked
Let's hope some action is taken and this can be turned around
Never loose Faith!
It is really distressing how giraffes are being hunted out of extinction.
I can't believe people want to kill this beautiful creature for its hide or for its cheap meat.
I'm glad that there are these initiatives to protect them and thank you for spreading the word @pagandance
They probably don't want to. But if you are poor and hungry...
This is probably true but what will they do when there are no more to kill...
Informative post -- a very sad reality! Giraffe, lion, elephants, rhinos...and so many more wild species are in danger of becoming extinct.
Yes. But there is always hope. I made this post because I really was not aware of the declining status of the giraffe. We read about elephants and rhinos all the time. It is not surprising that the giraffe is under treat as well, but I was not aware. Thanks for your caring:)
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