Giraffes on road to extinction, experts warn

By LONAH KIBET

KENYA: Experts have warned that giraffes are facing extinction due to increased poaching and habitat invasion.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director William Kiprono noted that much focus is not being directed towards giraffes yet they face increased danger.

Kenya currently hosts three giraffe subspecies that have drastically declined in the last 15 years.

“Giraffes are facing increased pressures impacting on their numbers and distribution in Kenya and Africa as a whole,” said Kiprono in a statement. National Conservation Task Force has established a Giraffe Conservation Strategy draft focusing on six key areas to save the animals.

The interventions were identified as enhancing security of giraffes to stem declining numbers and arresting and reversing the current decline in their habitats through appropriate conservation and management.

Additionally, there will be an effective management of confined populations to secure long-term conservation, education and public awareness and mobilising of community to be involved in conservation.

The stakeholders will also ensure that infrastructural developments in giraffe ranges are compatible with conservation by closely working with concerned agencies.

“The guidelines will define the roles the Government, conservation partners and other stakeholders will play while it raises awareness about the plight of giraffes,” said the KWS director.

He said through the guidelines, the country seeks to mitigate threats and reverse declining trends in giraffe numbers while ensuring benefits to local communities.

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While also recognising the enormous task ahead of them, he said KWS was committed to the existence of giraffes. Speaking at the same forum dubbed second International Conference on Giraffes at Nairobi National Park yesterday, KWS senior scientist Charles Musyoki praised the draft, saying it will save giraffes.

Conservation scientist with Giraffe Conservation Foundation Julian Fennessy said they are looking at different ways of conservation. He identified ‘introduction’ and ‘translocation’ as some of the moves they are considering. Statistics show that giraffes have dropped from over 140,000 (1988) to less than 80,000 (2012).

Giraffes largely contribute to the economy in terms of tourist attraction. They are a must-see on safari-goers wish-list.

They also act as agents of change in habitats and landscapes by opening new areas and promoting growth of new forage.