US Efforts to List West African Giraffes as 'Endangered'

US officials have proposed adding three subspecies of giraffes, including West African giraffes, Kordofan giraffes, and Nubian giraffes, to the list of 'threatened' species. This action is part of global efforts to protect wildlife and biodiversity. Additionally, Somali giraffes and Kilimanjaro giraffes have also been suggested as 'threatened' species to receive legal protections. These proposals were put forth by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which is a division of the US Department of the Interior, focusing primarily on protecting endangered species, bird migration, and managing national wildlife refuges. According to the agency's director, the goal is to ensure that at least US actions do not lead to further declines in these animals' populations. Martha Williams, the director of the agency, stated, 'Federal protections for giraffes help protect vulnerable species, enhance biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices.' The US Endangered Species Act, enacted in 1973, provides strong legal mechanisms for the protection of wildlife species classified as threatened or endangered worldwide. Under this law, legal and financial support can be provided for the protection and recovery of threatened species. Giraffe populations are declining for various reasons. A report published in 2018 indicated that many hunters from the US travel to Africa annually to hunt giraffes and take their heads and necks home as trophies to mount on boards and walls. Simultaneously, vast areas of Africa are struggling with recurring droughts, which put significant pressure on giraffe populations, and their habitats have been lost due to expanding agricultural and urban activities, as well as climate change. If the proposal to add these animal species to the 'threatened' list is finalized, illegal hunting and trade of giraffes will decrease, and new funding will be allocated for research and other conservation efforts for giraffes. Environmental groups and animal rights activists have been working since 2017 to persuade US federal officials to pass supportive measures for giraffe conservation.