FWS Proposes to List All Species of Giraffes as Endangered or Threatened
The Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list all species of giraffes as endangered or threatened, following a 12-month study on the issue, it said in a notice.
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The proposal is for three subspecies of the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) -- the West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta), the Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), and the Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis) -- as well as for the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) and the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), both from east Africa.
The FWS said it also studied data related to the subspecies of the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) -- the Angolan giraffe (Giraffa giraffa angolensis) and the South African giraffe (Giraffa giraffa giraffa) -- and determined that these species should be listed as threatened "based on their similarity of appearance to the West African giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, Nubian giraffe, reticulated giraffe, and Masai giraffe."
If the Angolan giraffe and South African giraffe weren't listed as threatened, "importers and exporters could inadvertently or purposefully misrepresent West African giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, Nubian giraffe, reticulated giraffe, and/or Masai giraffe (including specimens, and their parts or products) as the unlisted entity, creating a loophole in enforcing the Act’s protections for listed species of giraffe," the FWS said.
Requests for a public hearing on this issue should be made before Jan. 6, while comments on the proposed rule are due by Feb. 19.