Why Are Giraffes Endangered?
The giraffe, or giraffa camelopardalis, is endangered due to habitat loss, the breaking up of habitat areas, the lack of suitability in existing habitats, poaching and new human population growth. Giraffes need to find habitats that protect them from poachers, offer solid food and fluid resources, do not have an abundance of predators and provide an overall stable environment.
The Giraffe Conservation Foundation is working to provide giraffes with new safe spaces. There are nine subspecies of giraffes and all are endangered; however, the West African giraffe has the fewest numbers according to the GCF. In 2014, the West African giraffe had fewer than 300 members in the world.
The giraffe is an interesting mammal with long legs and a long neck. Its long legs are taller than most human beings at 6 feet and these legs can power a giraffe up to 35 miles per hour. They use their long necks to reach food from the top of trees. Giraffes live approximately 25 years in the wild.
Giraffes are also unique in their coats and with their spots. Each individual giraffe has its own pattern of spots and color. This provides researchers with a way to identify individual giraffes when observing large groups in the wild.
