It might surprise you to know that the wild giraffe population is in big trouble after steadily falling in recent years.
The story has not really been told in the media that numbers of the majestic giraffe have dropped a whopping 40 percent over the past 15 years, according to estimates by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
In 1999, there were an estimated 140,000 giraffes in the wild, but today the number is said to be fewer than 80,000.
“Giraffes are the forgotten megafauna. They’re really not getting the attention they deserve,” said foundation director Julian Fennessey.
The reason for the decrease in the giraffe population is the same fate facing other African wildlife face as well - poaching and habitat loss caused by human population growth.
While giraffes still inhabit 21 countries in Africa, much of their habitat is being repurposed for human use, especially agriculture.
Giraffes are also killed for food and for their thick hide, and recently there have been rumors sweeping the continent that giraffe brains and bone marrow can cure HIV - pushing the price of a head or bone as high as $140 per piece.
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