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It' s time we started caring more about the giraffe
Evan BartlettDec 03, 2014 Why giraffes
They may be one of the most iconic animals in the world, but the welfare of giraffes has been neglected by animal charities, academics and even philanthropic celebrities in recent years. Following reports in the Tanzanian media, the Times (£) has led with a story today that charts a dramatic 40 per cent decline in giraffe numbers across Africa. Just 15 years ago there were 140,000 giraffes on the continent, a number which has dropped to just 80,000 today. Yet despite these figures, the giraffe is still classified by the Red List, the endangered species inventory, as "a species of least concern". Poaching for bushmeat is cited as one of the biggest reasons for the giraffe's decline. They are often eaten by poachers on the hunt for elephants and rhinos and are targeted because they are easy to catch and for their sweet taste, but in some areas it is believed their bone marrow and brains can work as a cure for Aids and other illnesses too. Classification causes problems
Unlike some other megafauna, giraffes are not categorised into separate species, despite several academic studies suggesting that because of their distinctness they should be. The Red List, which last carried out an audit of the giraffe population in 2010, counts two of the nine sub-species of giraffe - West African giraffe (giraffa c. peralta) and Rothschild's giraffe (giraffa c. rothschildi) - as endangered.Keep reading...Show less Spanish PM condemns college student' s ' repugnant' mass catcalling
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