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Giraffes are facing a silent extinction as their numbers plummet by almost 30% in just 3 decades. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing giraffes—and all five of their subspecies—under the Endangered Species Act. With giraffe populations plummeting due to habitat destruction, poaching, and the climate crisis, this critical action is essential to prevent the further decline in species numbers and protect these iconic animals as individuals.

Three subspecies of the northern giraffe—West African giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, and Nubian giraffe—are proposed as endangered due to devastating threats like habitat loss, urbanization, hunting, and the compounding effects of the climate crisis. Meanwhile, the reticulated giraffe and Masai giraffe are proposed as threatened, as they also face severe habitat destruction and poaching, though their populations are in slightly better shape.

The proposal also includes listing the Angolan giraffe and South African giraffe as threatened due to their similarity in appearance to other subspecies. This important step prevents loopholes that could allow illegal trade and poaching to exploit their resemblance to endangered giraffes.

Listing giraffes under the Endangered Species Act will ban harmful activities like hunting and trade, regulate international commerce, and implement science-based recovery plans to help giraffe populations recover. This proposal is a necessary step to secure a future where giraffes are no longer at risk of extinction.

Urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize this proposal and provide giraffes the protections they desperately need. Your voice can make a difference.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Endangered and Threatened Species: Listing the Giraffe

I commend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for considering the petition to list giraffes and their subspecies under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This step is vital for ensuring the survival of these magnificent animals, who face mounting threats in their natural habitats.

Giraffe populations are in steep decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation from agricultural expansion, urbanization, and human-driven land use changes. Additionally, poaching for bushmeat, personal use, and trade continues to devastate populations, further exacerbated by human population growth, civil unrest, and the climate crisis. These interrelated factors create a precarious future for giraffes unless immediate conservation measures are taken.

The ESA provides powerful protections that would help giraffe populations recover and prevent further decline. For example, restricting the import and export of giraffe parts and products, as well as prohibiting harmful actions such as hunting and trading, will ensure that these species are given the protection they urgently need. Additionally, listing giraffes under the ESA would raise critical awareness about their plight and mobilize resources to address the threats they face.

I strongly urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to find this petition warranted and to proceed with listing all giraffe subspecies appropriately, reflecting the unique challenges each group faces. Protecting giraffes under the ESA is a necessary step toward safeguarding their future in a rapidly changing world.

Thank you for considering this important measure to protect one of the planet’s most iconic animals.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.