GLAND, SWITZERLAND — Once thought to be abundant in number, giraffes are now in danger of extinction, according to the authors of a report published on Thursday.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said the number of giraffes in the wild has declined by about 40 percent in the last three decades, the New York Times reported.
Giraffes, the world’s tallest land mammal, are mostly found in southern and eastern Africa, with smaller populations in West and Central Africa.
In 1985, there were approximately 163,000 giraffes in the wild, but that number now stands at around 97,000, according to the IUCN report.
However, of the nine giraffe subspecies, three are increasing in number and one is stable. The five other subspecies are decreasing in population size.
The biggest threats to giraffes’ survival are the encroachment of humans, poaching, destruction of their habitat by economic activity such as mining, and war.
The IUCN monitors endangered species on its Red List. The organization now classifies giraffes as vulnerable, meaning the species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.
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