Some fights for animals are a long-game—and that’s certainly been the case for everyone’s favorite long-necked animal, the giraffe. After years of advocacy, we are thrilled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing all four species of giraffes under the Endangered Species Act. This overdue proposal comes thanks to a petition and lawsuit brought by us and our allies.
Since the 1980s, giraffe populations have dropped nearly 40% because of habitat loss, human-caused habitat changes, poaching and civil unrest in regions where these animals live. There are fewer than 69,000 mature giraffes remaining in the wild. The international trade in giraffe bone carvings, skins and trophies puts extra pressure on giraffe populations. Our undercover investigation into the U.S. giraffe market in 2021 exposed how American imports of giraffe trophies and body parts are a factor driving the animals toward extinction. The U.S. imports more giraffe products than any other country in the world.
