Giraffes are adorable, magical creatures with a sweet smile. While we don't see much of them stateside, they are native to the African continent. We've recently learned that several subspecies of giraffes are in major trouble and have been added to the endangered species list.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), two subspecies of giraffes have been added to its list of "critically endangered" species. Another three subspecies are on the decline.
On the upside, two species have been improving since being labeled as vulnerable. The last of the nine subspecies is considered stable. The improvement in the two subspecies of giraffes is thanks to government intervention and increased measures to protect the beloved animals.
Now animal lovers and conservationists are faced with other giraffe subspecies to rally behind. It takes a combination of efforts to help endangered species, but if we've learned anything from mountain gorillas and giant pandas, it's that positive change is possible.
Giraffes are beloved animals around the world. Who can forget the hype around April the giraffe and her famous pregnancy?
There's also the beloved Geoffrey, who was the star of many heartbreaking Toys R Us memes throughout the last year.
That's why it's breaking our hearts to learn that three of the nine subspecies of giraffes are now considered endangered.
IUCN has evaluated only seven of those subspecies, five of them for the first time.
Reticulated giraffes, like April, are listed as endangered.
The Kordofan giraffe is listed as critically endangered. It's a smaller species of giraffe that's only 5 to 6 meters (about 16 to 20 feet) tall and native to northern Cameroon, southern Chad, Central African Republic, and western Sudan.
The Nubian giraffe is also critically endangered. It's found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan, where fewer than 2,000 are currently living.
In South Africa, some species of giraffe are on the rebound, thanks to conservation efforts.
Giraffes as a whole are listed as vulnerable. By IUCN's definition, that means that giraffes are likely to become endangered unless circumstances that threaten their survival and reproduction improve.
According to National Geographic, an answer on how to save them is a little tricky to find. Scientists still don't know enough about giraffe behavior to be able to figure out how to help them thrive.
What we do know is that trophy hunting and poaching are not helping the species.
So many people were hurt to discover the news that giraffes are in such dire straits.
In the United States, many are calling for the president to add giraffes to the Endangered Species Act.
We hope that conservationists worldwide will be able to help giraffes in the same way they've helped other endangered species. The majestic animals should be protected at all costs.
