GIRAFFES ARE IN DANGER OF BECOMING EXTINCT

As recently as 15 years ago, there were roughly 140,000 giraffes in Africa, according to a recent conservation study.

The world's tallest animal, giraffes are spread among 21 separate countries. They have nine subspecies, two of which are now classified as endangered. The subspecies are categorized based on genetic data, geography, coat patterns and morphology. 

Hunting and poaching have decimated the continent's giraffe population by about 40 percent, according to one estimate. There are now only about 80,000 of the animals currently in the wild.

The poachers are hauling in record numbers of giraffes because many believe the long-necked animal's meat and/or bone marrow is an HIV cure.

Freshly severed heads and giraffe bones can fetch prices of up to $140 per piece. In rural African communities, bush meat not only forms a large part of the diet but also provides an important source of income. 

Killing a giraffe involves relatively little effort for the amount of meat yielded, as a large quarry can be secured with a single gunshot. Giraffe skin is thick, durable and suitable for a range of purposes such as making clothing, shoes, bags, belts, hats and covers for drums.

Their hair is also used to make bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry as far back as ancient Egypt. 

Recent restrictions on hunting giraffes living in wildlife parks have failed to curb poachers who are determined to take down the highly coveted creatures. 

Today laws for hunting giraffes in Africa vary from country to country. Roughly 80,000 live in Africa, about 1,000 in zoos worldwide, and a handful of others in smaller facilities. Giraffes have even gone extinct in some countries, including Senegal, Mauritania, Mali and Mozambique. Farmers also kill giraffes because they eat their crops. If people aren't careful, there will be no more giraffes in Africa. Giraffes have been eliminated from much of their former ranges in western Africa and the southern Kalahari. Giraffes were nearly eliminated from East Africa at the turn of the century by non-native hunters and rinderpest, a disease believed to be introduced by cattle imported to Africa. Today, giraffes are found in national parks and areas outside of those parks. 

We need to protect these animals and their habitats. Help save the giraffe.