World Giraffe Day: Animal under threat despite population growth
World Giraffe Day is June 21, and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation released its 2025 State of Giraffe report ahead of the celebration.
The report points to better data collection and conservation efforts for an increase in the population in some giraffe species.
"Not only are our conservation efforts paying off, but with the support of our partners, we are getting better at monitoring and protecting these iconic creatures," Stephanie Fennessy, the Foundation's Executive Director, said in a press release accompanying the report.
Giraffes were moved up on the IUCN Red List from Least Concern to Vulnerable in 2016.
Despite the improvements, the Foundation pointed to the report as evidence that the species should be moved higher, saying, "there is now a strong case for listing three of the four species as Endangered or Vulnerable." The Foundation added, "These new trends provide hope – but the threat of silent extinction remains."
Here's what to know about the state of giraffes on World Giraffe Day.
Giraffe populations improve, though still at risk
The report states that following species of giraffe have seen either improvement or stability in their population:
- Northern giraffe: The species remains one of the world’s most threatened large mammals with 7,037 northern giraffes remaining, according to the report. In a positive sign, the report found a nearly 20% increase in its population.
- Reticulated giraffe: The report estimates that there are 20,901 reticulated giraffes remaining with a population that appears to be increasing. However, the press release said reliable data for the species is difficult due to security issues in northeastern Kenya and limited access in parts of Ethiopia and Somalia.
- Southern giraffe: There are an estimated 68,837 southern giraffes that can be found across southern Africa – a 50% increase in just five years – largely due to improved survey coverage and increased awareness, according to the foundation.
- Masai giraffe: The population of the Masai giraffe appeared stable across Kenya at an estimated 43,926 with strong signs of resilience. The foundation states that the population continues to grow steadily in Rwanda and Zambia’s Luangwa giraffe are also expanding in range and number.
"These new data call for an urgent reassessment of giraffe on the IUCN Red List and renewed attention from international agreements like CITES. Each species deserves tailored protection — one-size-fits-all won’t save them," Dr. Julian Fennessy, the foundation's Director of Conservation, said in the press release.