Giraffes To Be Given Trade Protections

​worldanimalnews.com/breaking-world-governments-agree-to-trade-protections-for-imperiled-giraffes-more-protection-is-still-needed/

Giraffes are finally being given an opportunity to be better protected after being listed under Appendix 2 through CITES. This listing will make it mandatory to track all sales and trade of giraffe parts as well as requiring permits to make these transactions. This is imperative in determining exactly how many giraffes are being slaughtered and exactly how many parts are being imported / exported to participating countries.

Giraffes have been silently heading towards extinction as they wait for the US Fish and Wildlife Services to grant them Endangered Species Protections so this is the perfect place to start with this Appendix 2 listing. Through the voting process, 21 countries opposed the listing, 106 were in favour, and seven abstained from voting. CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and countries will use this convention to determine whether a species requires monitoring and permits in trading of their parts. It also monitors the sales and determines if they are done legally and also whether the sales are further endangering the species' chances of survival.

Giraffe numbers have plummeted nearly 40% since 1985 with habitat loss and poaching being the top factors in that decline. There are less than 100, 000 giraffes left in the wild and without the appropriate protection, they are quickly headed towards extinction. It's absolutely shocking to consider how few of these majestic animals remain in the wild when you consider the scope of the human population. 

First of all, I think it's disgusting that any singular country would vote against listing the giraffe under appendix 2. I can't imagine any argument a country could have that would justify allowing the giraffe to continue to be hunted for stupid trophies or trinkets when they are teetering on the edge of vulnerability to extinction. It's absolutely mind boggling that there is such a process when it comes to protecting vulnerable species especially considering the US Fish and Wildlife Services is taking its sweet time in labeling the giraffe endangered. What are we waiting for? 

Second of all, it's frightening just how many of Africa's native wildlife is in danger and almost entirely due to human interference. Elephants, Jaguars, Leopards, Giraffes, Tigers, Rhinos, all of these beautiful animals are in serious danger of heading towards extinction and it's 100% our fault. Habitat loss is a human problem; as our populations continue to grow we require more space to live and grow our food which encroaches on their natural habitat. This leads to increased conflict which leads to justifiable slaughter of endangered animals. It's a vicious cycle.

Poaching, trophy hunting, and the trade of endangered animal parts is especially concerning in these cases because it's not even about sustaining our growing population, it's entirely about making money off of animals that are in serious danger of going extinct. I have absolutely no respect for anyone who engages in trophy hunting because they have absolutely no regard for the survival of an entire fucking species, rather their own sick and perverse desire to stalk and shoot dead an animal after paying tens of thousands of dollars to do so. There's something seriously wrong with anyone who engages in these activities ESPECIALLY in the case of endangered animals.

It's time to put an end to trophy hunting once and for all. Enough hiding behind conservation to justify your sick urges. Put that money towards actual conservation efforts and stop the killing. I also believe that we need to seriously start considering a maximum child allowance. However extreme this may be, I think it's entirely justifiable when we consider the scope of the human population versus the animal kingdom. Why do we need 4 or 5 children when that means more space we take from animals to produce more animals for food and such when the space they have is already scarce. We are growing to a point where there will be no more land or animals aside from those we breed for food. There should be a maximum of 2 children per household in my opinion otherwise we will continue to grow and steal the land from vulnerable animals. We need drastic change if things are going to get any better.

What do you guys think?

HAPPY VEG