Map Design: Joseph Basnight; Map Data: O’Connor et al., 2019
*Not yet separately assessed by IUCN Red List, but based on current data, when assessed they fall into these categories.
THE SILENT
EXTINCTION
Did you know that in the last 30 years, the giraffe population in Africa has plummeted from approximately 155,000 to fewer than 100,000, according to the latest IUCN Red List assessment? Shockingly, there are now fewer giraffes in the wild than African elephants, marking a distressing decline that few are aware of – the giraffes are facing a silent extinction. In fact, three of the four species are now endangered, and, in some African countries, they are already extinct.
What’s Behind the Decline?
Loss of Habitat
As farming expands, giraffes lose their natural habitat to crop farming and livestock grazing.
Hunting and Poaching
Giraffes are hunted for their meat, pelts, and body parts, contributing to their decline.
Human Conflict
Wildlife, including giraffes, sometimes clash with farmers over crops, leading to conflicts and sometimes retaliation against the animals.
Armed Conflict and Civil Unrest
War-torn regions disrupt giraffe habitats and conservation efforts.
Infrastructure Development
Activities like road construction and urban expansion encroach upon giraffe territory.
Population Isolation
Giraffe groups become isolated, hindering breeding and genetic diversity.
Accidental Deaths
Giraffes face dangers like collisions with vehicles, entrapment in wires, and electrocution.
Giraffe Population and Conservation Status by Species
Information based on data from The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Masai Giraffe
Once the most populous giraffe species with an estimated 71,000 individuals three decades ago, Masai giraffe now face a stark reality. Less than half of that number are in the wild today. Masai giraffe can be found across Kenya and Tanzania, with a small, isolated population in northeastern Zambia known as the Masai Thornicroft.
Scientific Name: Giraffa tippelskirchi
Population: Approximately 35,000 Masai giraffes remain
IUCN RED LIST STATUS:
- Masai are ENDANGERED
- Masai Thornicroft are VULNERABLE
Northern Giraffe
Of the three subspecies of the Northern Giraffe known today, two are critically endangered, and one is considered vulnerable.
Three subspecies exist across Eastern and Central Africa – the Kordofan giraffe, the Rothschild’s giraffe (now believed to be synonymous with the Nubian giraffe), and the West African giraffe. The Northern giraffe is especially at risk due to war-ravaged countries and fragmented habitats.
Scientific Name: Giraffa camelopardalis
Subspecies: Kordofan – G. c. antiquorum │ Rothschild’s (Nubian) – G. c. camelopardalis │ West African – G. c. peralta
Population: Approximately 5,600 Northern giraffes remain
Subspecies: Kordofan – 2,000 │ Rothschild’s (Nubian) – 3,000 │ West African – 600
IUCN RED LIST STATUS:
Reticulated Giraffe
Restricted to Northern Kenya, with small populations in Ethiopia and Somalia, numbers of Reticulated giraffes have dropped by more than half in the last three decades.
Scientific Name: Giraffa reticulata
Population: Approximately 15,780 Reticulated giraffes remain
IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Endangered
Southern Giraffe
A beacon of hope in the giraffe conservation story, Southern giraffes make up over 50% of Africa’s total giraffe population.
One subspecies, the Angolan giraffe, was once locally extinct in Angola but has experienced a remarkable recovery due to reintroduction programs. Angolan giraffe populations have tripled over the past three decades!
Scientific Name: Giraffa giraffa
Subspecies: Angolan – G. g. angolensis │ South African – G. g. giraffa
Population: Approximately 54,750 Southern giraffes exist today
Subspecies: Angolan: ~17,750 │ South African: ~37,000
Status: Improving.
IUCN RED LIST STATUS:
- Angolan giraffe – LEAST CONCERN
- South African giraffe – NOT ASSESSED ‡
‡Nubian giraffe not yet assessed by IUCN as a single subspecies, but would be categorized as Critically Endangered. The South African giraffe has not been assessed by IUCN, but it is likely categorized as Least Concern.
†IUCN Red List categorizes West African Giraffe as Vulnerable because of the Red List assessment criteria, and the population of WA Giraffe have increased from 49 in 1995 to 600 today, a huge improvement. But WA Giraffe are still the most imperiled type of giraffe, and are on the edge of extinction.