With its spindly legs, distinctive patterning, and absurdly long neck, the giraffe
makes a compelling figure on the savanna. But the population of the world's
tallest mammal has dropped sharply in recent decades – from about 150,000 in
1985, to fewer than 100,000 today.
That decline prompted five wildlife groups to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service on Wednesday to classify the giraffe as an endangered species. They say
the giraffe is facing increasing threats from habitat loss, illegal hunting for bush
meat and an international trade in trophies and bone carvings.
Giraffes aren't native to the U.S., but FWS classifies foreign species, too.
There are a few ways the U.S. classification could help the giraffe population
rebound in Africa, says Jeffrey Flocken, regional director for International Fund
for Animal Welfare, one of the groups behind the petition.
He says that from 2006 to 2015, the U.S. was responsible for importing 3,744
giraffe hunting trophies. That's almost one per day.
"The biggest reason to petition to list it under the U.S. Endangered Species Act,"
Flocken says, "is while we can't stop people from killing species in other
countries, we can stop them bringing the parts back to the United States. So if
this were successful, it would either limit or outright stop import of giraffe
parts."
In addition to limiting imports, Flocken notes that species classified as
endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act get more attention –
and greater opportunities for funding to monitor and protect the species.
"It's a bit of a Catch-22," says Flocken. "Until a species is declared imperiled —
either endangered or threatened — there isn't much recording and monitoring
done of what is going on with that species. There could be scientists studying
their biology and their life in the wild, but at the same time perhaps no one is
monitoring their trade."
FWS would not comment or confirm receipt of the petition, but its website
explains its process for petition review. Once a petition is received, the FWS (or
the National Marine Fisheries Service for most marine species) makes a
determination within 90 days as to whether there is "substantial information"
that the potential listing may be warranted.
"By regulating activities, the United States ensures that people under the
jurisdiction of the United States do not contribute to the further decline of listed
species," it says.
Perhaps the most recent similar campaign concerned the lion. A petition was
filed on its behalf in March 2011, Flocken says, and it took until Dec. 2015
for the lion to be classified as endangered. (Some have speculated that it was the
infamous killing of Cecil the Lion earlier that year that spurred the Service
to add the species to the endangered list, but Flocken insists the decision was
based on science: "We knew that trophy hunting contributed to the decline of the
species.")
The petition — and the giraffe's prospects — may benefit from the popularity
the species enjoys among the general public.
"If you ask any random group of folks here in the U.S. what their favorite animal
is, ultimately giraffes are going to be in the top five," Flocken says. "People love
them. And I think the new knowledge that they're in trouble is going to surprise
many individuals, and I think there will be a movement in the conservation
community and the general public to help save them."
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