5 Facts about Giraffes + their Silent Extinction

Celebrate these amazing and much-loved animals! Read some facts below and why we need to create awareness and shed light on giraffe’s Silent Extinction:

2–4 minutes

5 Facts about Giraffes

Fact #1
There are four distinct species of giraffe:

Northern giraffe
Southern giraffe
Reticulated giraffe and
Masai giraffe

Fact #2
Just like human fingerprints, no two giraffe have the same coat pattern.

Fact #3
The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world. Even newborn giraffe are taller than most humans.

Fact #4
Giraffe have lost almost 90% of their habitat in the last 300 years.

Fact #5
For every four elephant, only one giraffe remains in the wild in Africa—a drop of approximately 30% in the last three and a half decades.

What is Silent Extinction?

Over the past 35 years, giraffe numbers have decreased by nearly 30%. In regions once considered prime habitats, their numbers have dropped by up to 95%, and giraffe have lost nearly 90% of their historical range over the last three centuries.

The plight of giraffe, one of conservation’s best-kept secrets, is finally coming to light. Despite a significant decline in their population over recent decades, giraffe have garnered minimal attention and support for their conservation. Research conducted by conservationists has led to critical discoveries for the preservation of giraffe in the wild, most notably the identification of four distinct giraffe species. Among these, two species have such critically low populations that they are among the most endangered large mammals on the planet.

In the BBC documentary “Giraffe: Africa’s Gentle Giants”—featuring GCF’s important work in Africa—Sir David Attenborough referred to this decline as a “Silent Extinction.” These alarming numbers serve as a reminder that we need to protect giraffe now before it is too late.

GCF is the only NGO in the world that concentrates solely on the conservation and management of giraffe in the wild throughout Africa. We are dedicated to securing a future for all giraffe populations in the wild. Our conservation approach is based on solid science and our Translocation Programs are just one example that proves our success by actively bringing giraffe back into areas where they originally reigned.

Whether you’re telling a friend, adopting a giraffe, or wearing one of our official t-shirts at the park, your support puts you at the center of our work. You are the backbone of our conservation actions and partnerships throughout Africa.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Wear Official World Giraffe Day Apparel
Our official apparel is a great way to spread the word about giraffe conservation. Shirts, hoodies, and more…
Shop in the Official GCF Gift Shop
Shop for gifts—mugs, postcards, notebooks, t-shirts, and hoodies.
Share a Charity Print
These Limited Edition giraffe prints are available for a limited time and are part of the annual fundraising efforts. Share a print on social media or buy one as a gift!
Adopt a Giraffe (yes, you read that correctly)
The official giraffe adoptions help fund the giraffe translocation program. This program returns wild giraffe to their historical habitats in Africa. Also available as a gift.
Make a Donation to GCF
Every donation directly impacts over 100 million acres of giraffe habitat.

Source:
World Giraffe Day is an annual event initiated by GCF to celebrate the tallest animal every year on the 21st of June. By supporting World Giraffe Day , you directly help save giraffe in Africa. With only approximately 117,000 giraffe remaining in the wild, the time is right to act NOW!