OAN Staff Blake Wolf
4:20pm – Thursday, November 21, 2024
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is attempting to protect the species by submitting a proposal to add them to the Endangered Species Act, as wild giraffe populations have dwindled in the African savannah.
advertisement
Poaching, habitat loss, urbanization and drought threaten the species, leading to the first-ever proposal for giraffe conservation.
“Federal giraffe protections help protect vulnerable species, promote biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices.”U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Commissioner Martha Williams said. “This action will help protect giraffes while ensuring that the United States is no longer complicit in their decline.”
The West African giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, and Nubian giraffe are all among the subspecies included in the proposed endangered species because their populations have declined by 77% since 1985.
The United States has long been a significant importer of giraffe parts and products, resulting in approximately 40,000 giraffe imports over a 10-year period, according to a 2018 Humane Society report.
This protection aims to prevent poachers from killing the animals by limiting the number of giraffes imported, which are typically used to make rugs, jewelry, shoes, and trophy items.
The total giraffe population has declined from more than 150,000 in 1985 to about 98,000 in 2015.
If the proposal is finalized, the legislation will support giraffe research and conservation efforts. Furthermore, the import of giraffes will be restricted by requiring a permit.
The Fish and Wildlife Service filed the conservation bill in response to a lawsuit filed by environmentalists in 2021, asking the group to make a decision on giraffe protection by November of this year.
The 2021 lawsuit comes after the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to respond to a 2017 petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups.
The proposal is expected to be completed within the next year.
Stay informed. Receive breaking news directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisement below
Please share this post!
