Latest news with #GiraffeConservationFoundation
Indianapolis Star
3 hours ago
- General
- Indianapolis Star
World Giraffe Day: Animal under threat despite population growth
World Giraffe Day is June 21, and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation released its 2025 State of Giraffe report ahead of the celebration. The report points to better data collection and conservation efforts for an increase in the population in some giraffe species. "Not only are our conservation efforts paying off, but with the support of our partners, we are getting better at monitoring and protecting these iconic creatures," Stephanie Fennessy, the Foundation's Executive Director, said in a press release accompanying the report. Giraffes were moved up on the IUCN Red List from Least Concern to Vulnerable in 2016. Despite the improvements, the Foundation pointed to the report as evidence that the species should be moved higher, saying, "there is now a strong case for listing three of the four species as Endangered or Vulnerable." The Foundation added, "These new trends provide hope – but the threat of silent extinction remains." Here's what to know about the state of giraffes on World Giraffe Day. The report states that following species of giraffe have seen either improvement or stability in their population:
USA Today
19 hours ago
- General
- USA Today
World Giraffe Day: Animal under threat despite population growth
World Giraffe Day is June 21, and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation released its 2025 State of Giraffe report ahead of the celebration. The report points to better data collection and conservation efforts for an increase in the population in some giraffe species. "Not only are our conservation efforts paying off, but with the support of our partners, we are getting better at monitoring and protecting these iconic creatures," Stephanie Fennessy, the Foundation's Executive Director, said in a press release accompanying the report. Giraffes were moved up on the IUCN Red List from Least Concern to Vulnerable in 2016. Despite the improvements, the Foundation pointed to the report as evidence that the species should be moved higher, saying, "there is now a strong case for listing three of the four species as Endangered or Vulnerable." The Foundation added, "These new trends provide hope – but the threat of silent extinction remains." Here's what to know about the state of giraffes on World Giraffe Day. Giraffe populations improve, though still at risk The report states that following species of giraffe have seen either improvement or stability in their population: "These new data call for an urgent reassessment of giraffe on the IUCN Red List and renewed attention from international agreements like CITES. Each species deserves tailored protection — one-size-fits-all won't save them," Dr. Julian Fennessy, the foundation's Director of Conservation, said in the press release.
The Citizen
a day ago
- General
- The Citizen
Pretoria zoo welcomes new baby giraffe
To commemorate World Giraffe Day, the National Zoological Garden recently welcomed a newborn baby giraffe. World Giraffe Day, initiated by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), is a day to honour the world's tallest land animal on the longest day of the year, June 21. The zoo is home to five giraffes, each with a unique personality and story. Among the giraffes is Momo, an 11-year-old matriarch known for her calm and independent nature and on June 8, she gave birth to a healthy calf. 'Our team has decided to name the new calf Enzo, meaning 'ruler of the estate',' says Carol Thobela, the curator of carnivores, pachyderms and farmyard. 'It's a strong, bold name that suits the energy we have seen already. Even though we don't yet know if Enzo is male or female, the name reflects the confidence and spirit of this little one.' Other members of the herd include Tiago, born in 2020, Azuri, born in 2022, and Bonito, who is nine years old. 'According to new genetic classifications, the giraffes are assumed to belong to the South African giraffe subspecies (G.g. giraffa), though genetic testing has not yet been conducted to confirm this,' says Tracy Rehse, Director of Animal Conservation. 'Understanding subspecies helps us align our animal management practices with conservation science and ensures we're contributing meaningful data to global conservation efforts.' To keep the giraffes healthy and happy, the zoo follows a detailed enclosure management plan and a diet created by a specialist team. Their food is offered using elevated feeders to mimic tree-top grazing, while night shelters and a surrounding wet moat provide security and comfort, taking into account the giraffe's natural reluctance to cross water. The zoo also benefits from generous browse donations by the Tshwane metro and local communities, ensuring the animals receive a varied and natural diet. Beyond care and education, the zoo also contributes to long-term conservation by collecting and storing genetic material from giraffes and other wildlife as part of South Africa's national genetic repository. Meanwhile, Mokopane Biodiversity Conservation Centre manages a free-roaming group of 15 giraffes on the game reserve, offering a view into how these animals behave in their natural habitat. World Giraffe Day is not just about admiring Africa's gentle giants. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness and support for the conservation of giraffes, which are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and deteriorating ecological infrastructure. While promoting animal welfare and public education, the zoo also plays an important role in national conservation efforts. Although giraffes are locally classified as 'Least Concern', the species is globally listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List, with some subspecies facing a higher risk of extinction. 'As we mark World Giraffe Day, SANBI celebrates not only these incredible animals but also the role they play in healthy ecosystems. We invite all South Africans to visit the zoo and join us in learning more about giraffes and the importance of protecting them for future generations,' says Nontsikelelo Mpulo, marketing director at SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute). Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
IOL News
5 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Now is the time to notice the giraffe
While the plight of black rhinos and pangolins dominates the headlines, another iconic African species is experiencing population declines due to habitat loss and human encroachment. This World Giraffe Day (21 June) is a chance to focus on the plight of these towering but elegant creatures, which, despite their height, are often overlooked as a species that needs to be conserved. Ahead of World Giraffe Day (Saturday, 21 June) a new report shows that despite some of the challenges to giraffe populations, these animals do not get the same conservation attention as some other species and the role private reserves play in conserving and studying them. According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, over the past 35 years, giraffe populations have declined by 30%, and now only an estimated 117 000 remain in the wild. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies the species as vulnerable, with sub-species the Nubian and Kordofan giraffe considered critically endangered. Threats to giraffe populations differ by region, but they include habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agricultural expansion, human settlement, and infrastructure development. Fragmented habitats reduce access to food and water, limit genetic diversity, and increase the potential for human-wildlife conflict. Giraffes are also hunted for bushmeat, skins and tails and even bones, which are used for traditional medicine and charms. CEO at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Joe Cloete,, said another factor is a lack of awareness and conservation attention. 'Giraffes have historically received less conservation focus compared to some other species. As a result, the declines in some sub-species have gone largely unnoticed until recently. What's often not appreciated is the giraffe's role in maintaining biodiversity by shaping vegetation, creating habitats for smaller species and supporting ecosystems.' As with rhino conservation, where over half of Africa's remaining white rhinos are now conserved on private land, private game reserves have a role to play in giraffe conservation. Cloete says these reserves protect large tracts of land from agriculture, deforestation and urban expansion. They also restore degraded ecosystems, improving forage availability and biodiversity, benefitting giraffes and other species. Dedicated anti-poaching patrols, such as those at Shamwari, equipped with dogs, surveillance technology and even aircraft, reduce illegal hunting. Private reserves also play an important part in managing healthy breeding populations of giraffes, supporting genetic diversity through careful introductions or transfers between populations. 'Because we're invested, we keep a close eye on our giraffe populations. This helps add to the pool of knowledge about giraffe behaviour, ecology and genetics as well as identifying threats early and evaluating the success of conservation strategies.' Importantly, like Shamari, many reserves have outreach programmes, engaging surrounding communities and raising awareness about the importance of conservation. 'These help build understanding that giraffes draw tourists and have economic value for the community, which benefits from jobs at the reserves and supplying them with goods and services. For example, we source our amenity kits from a local sewing group.'
