Giraffes are now Critically Endangered, according to the IUCN.
What Is The IUCN?
The IUCN (also known as the International Union for Conservation of Nature), is a conservation organization who works to classify the status of species. This includes wild species of animals. They will give species a status. There are seven statuses in the IUCN Red List.
These seven statuses are:
1) Least Concern (LC) 2) Near Threatened (NT) 3) Vulnerable (V) 4) Endangered (EN) 5) Critically Endangered (CR) 6) Extinct In The Wild (EW) 7) Extinct (EX)
These seven statuses help wildlife conservation's understand how many animals there are of a particular species. It also helps wildlife conservation's understand what species are threatened with extinction.
The giraffe is now critically endangered, which is one step away from becoming endangered in the wild and two steps away from becoming extinct completely.
Why Are Giraffes Now Critically Endangered?
Giraffes are now endangered due to a shocking decline in the animal's numbers. There are two giraffe subspecies which are now critically endangered. These giraffes reside in Sudan, in Africa. There are now less than 5,000 of them; with only 4,650 remaining in the wild.
What Does This Mean?
This means that these subspecies are almost as endangered as the Tiger and Snow Leopard. It also means that there is a real risk that these beautiful animals could disappear from the plains of Africa.
It also could result in giraffes themselves becoming extinction; something which is now a real threat and possibility. Some are calling the decline of giraffes as 'the silent extinction'. The decline of these animals has occurred in mostly the last 30 years. And it is happening at an alarming rate. Just 30 years ago, there were 157,000 giraffes living in the wild. By 2016, there were 40% fewer of these animals in the wild.
In other words, there was a 40% decline in the number of giraffes over the last 30 years.
Today, as of November 2018, the IUCN Red List says that there are only 68,293 giraffes living in the wild of Africa today. The IUCN Red List also says that this species is 'decreasing' in their numbers. Their numbers are alarming, but so is the silence of these beautiful animals decline.
However, since 2016, that number has declined further.
What Could Be The Future Of Giraffes?
The future of giraffes will depend on us. We are the key to their survival. And we will determine whether or not future generations live in a World where there are giraffes roaming in the African plains.