Conservation Groups Initiate Lawsuits to Speed Up Giraffe Protections

​worldanimalnews.com/breaking-conservation-groups-take-legal-action-to-speed-up-protection-for-endangered-giraffes-under-the-endangered-species-act/

Conservation groups issued an intent to sue after the USFWS failed to issue Endangered Species Act protections to Africa's decimated giraffe population. There are currently fewer than 70, 000 giraffe's remaining in the wild and without the funds and necessary attention ESA protections would grant, giraffe's will continue to plunge further and further towards extinction.

After a similar lawsuit last year, the USFWS determined that giraffes may qualify for ESA protections but then failed to follow up leaving giraffes vulnerable to continued perils without protection. Without necessary protections, giraffes will continue to be trophy hunted and poached for their parts which will continue to dwindle their numbers. Giraffe populations have dipped nearly 40% due to poaching, habitat loss, and civil unrest leading to human conflict. The United States is responsible for the import of at least one giraffe trophy every day with bones, pelts, and trophies contributing to the population decline of giraffes.

It is absolutely mind boggling that conservation groups have to repeatedly sue the government in order for them to act appropriately. Why are we having to sue our government to recognize that giraffes are in serious need of protection? Isn't it evident based on the statistics that giraffes are in trouble? Isn't the fact that there are fewer than 70, 000 giraffes remaining in the wild enough of a reason to issue these protections? While the USFWS takes its time deciding whether to issue ESA protections to giraffes, their perils don't disappear. They continue to suffer in silence as the government lacks any initiative in protecting them and in these situations, time is of the essence. We do not have time to waste because as I've said many times before, extinction is permanent.

This isn't a tough decision. First off, issue the ESA protections immediately which will allocate resources and funding to giraffe conservation. Ban trophy hunting participation of giraffes and other endangered animals. Stop the import of hunting trophies from animals like giraffes that face extinction. Work with African authorities to address the perils giraffes face. These are things that must immediately take place for the sake of giraffe survival. We need action and we need it promptly or we will see the extinction of giraffes.

Two species of giraffe are currently listed as "endangered" while another two are "critically endangered" as of 2018. Two years later and we've done nothing. The USFWS needs to step up and do its job before giraffes disappear and if they do, it will be entirely our fault as a civilization.

HAPPY VEG