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Daily Maverick
16-07-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Tackling a tall story — a myopic focus on trophy hunting harms real giraffe conservation
The gentle giraffe faces multiple threats across Africa. Foremost of these are habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, poaching and climate change. Notably absent from the list of existential threats is legal trophy hunting. In response to Daily Maverick's Don Pinnock, a group of non-hunting conservationists explains how giraffe hunting can have positive outcomes for giraffe conservation. The media can contribute positively to the conservation of all giraffe and other species by spotlighting issues that need greater public awareness and support. As government budgets for global conservation spending are cut or spent on other sectors, local and international conservation organisations increasingly rely on public donations to keep working. But when the media spotlight is used to mislead the public regarding the real threats that animals face, it deflects critical awareness and funding away from dealing with them. That would be bad enough. Yet a recent article by Don Pinnock in Daily Maverick goes one step further, by describing a positive force for conservation as a threat. As conservationists working across Africa, we could not let this attack on conservation stand. Instead, we want to highlight the real state of giraffe using the latest scientific information. The article in question sought to popularise a report from Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting (CBTH, deceptively rebranded as Wildlife & Conservation Foundation), a UK-based lobby group that does not contribute to giraffe conservation on the ground. Their report — released to coincide with World Giraffe Day on 21 June — was based on the opinion of Dr Fred Bercovitch and referenced 2023 data from the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Discovering the real state of giraffe The State of Giraffe 2025 (SoG25) was also released on World Giraffe Day, spearheaded by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) — the world's only organisation devoted solely to conserving giraffe across their range through actions on the ground. This 31-page publication presents the latest giraffe population and distribution statistics using data from more than a thousand independent sources and the national authorities of giraffe range states. The numbers are broken down according to the newly recognised four giraffe species and their subspecies (note: this new species classification is in the final stage of review by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission's Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group). The data collection methods for this report are presented, and any shortcomings (eg, lack of data due to civil unrest) are provided in the interest of transparency. Following the IUCN Red List standards, the authors assign a conservation status for each giraffe species. These new assessments provide a much better picture of how each giraffe species is faring in different parts of Africa, which further helps to reveal the real threats posed in each country and the conservation actions that could be taken to address them. The first graph presented in the SoG25 report, and reproduced below, tells a story that is worth unpacking in light of the claims about trophy hunting threats. Of the four giraffe species, only one has shown a general upward trend over the past 30 years — the southern giraffe. Reflecting its growth from 31,700 to 68,837 in that time, the SoG25 authors propose that this species should be listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The biggest populations of this species are found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe — all of which allow giraffe trophy hunting and are the main exporters of giraffe parts on the CITES database. While the southern giraffe increased, all other giraffe species — which occur in countries that do not allow giraffe hunting — declined at an alarming rate. Recent conservation efforts have reversed or stabilised these trends since 2015. Nonetheless, the reticulated giraffe (found mainly in Kenya) and the northern giraffe (found across East, Central and West Africa) are considered Endangered in the SoG25. The Masai giraffe, evaluated as Vulnerable in the SoG25, is showing signs of a comeback in Tanzania and Kenya, which jointly host most of this species. While Tanzania does not allow giraffe hunting, it is a major hunting destination for other species, and much of its land is conserved under hunting concessions that provide critical giraffe habitat. At a minimum, this assessment shows that legal trophy hunting does not threaten giraffe with extinction. When combining the CITES 2023 data used by Pinnock and the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting with the estimated national giraffe populations in the SoG25, we find that the 17 non-giraffe-hunting range states (including Tanzania) host on average 4,400 giraffe each. Excluding Tanzania — given that hunting is a major activity for other species there — non-hunting range states host on average 2,874 giraffe each. The four giraffe-hunting range states host on average 16,474 giraffe each. Does legal hunting facilitate illegal trade? Getting around these simple statistics takes rhetorical tricks, which Bercovitch uses in CBTH's virtually fact-free report, parroted uncritically by Pinnock. With no way of claiming that legal hunting itself causes giraffe declines (given the opposite is true), Bercovitch resorts to the indirect trade theory: 'Trophy hunting is endangering giraffes in Africa because the shipment of giraffe parts from legal hunting provides an avenue for the shipment of giraffe parts obtained illegally.' To substantiate that statement, he misuses trade data from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He claims that the data indicate that 400 giraffe trophies were imported to the US annually over a 10-year period, while exporting nations reported only 300 giraffe hunts. Consequently, he says: 'If those two figures are correct and reconciled, that means 25% of the giraffe specimens coming into the US are from illegally killed giraffes.' Anyone who has examined wildlife trade data will expect the number of trophies imported to be different from the number of animals hunted. This is simply because import data is based on individual body parts of the animal, whereas one hunt accounts for the whole animal. A giraffe has over 170 bones in its body, and one of the more common forms of giraffe trophy is 'bone carvings'. The skin and skull are frequently reported separately from the bone carvings, and even 'pieces of skin' and 'tail hair' are reported separately in some cases. One giraffe hunt could therefore easily produce many giraffe trophies, all from legal, regulated hunting activities of southern giraffe. Different parts of a giraffe may also be exported and imported separately (eg, the skull is taken home by the hunter as a trophy, while a bone or leather item from the same giraffe is sold as a curio to another tourist). The CITES trade database is therefore not an accurate assessment of the number of animals harvested, and it cannot be used alone to determine whether the level of trade is sustainable. Population trends over time, as we have shown for giraffe, are more reliable ways of determining the positive or negative impact of trade. Are giraffe only conserved in national parks? Since South Africa is the largest exporter of giraffe body parts and hosts the largest population of southern giraffe, it is the ideal case study to test another false Bercovitch claim: 'Giraffe numbers are increasing only in national parks and protected reserves – places where trophy hunting is banned.' Counting giraffe accurately on private land is more difficult than on state land, since there are approximately 14,000 game ranches and private reserves scattered across South Africa, not all of which have giraffe. The SoG25 southern giraffe estimate is the first that includes a comprehensive survey of privately owned giraffe in South Africa. The details of this survey are further broken down in a scientific paper authored by a team from GCF and the University of Mpumalanga. This study reveals that nearly half (49.4%) of the nation's giraffe occur on private land. While the Kruger National Park hosts the biggest single giraffe population in the country (over 12,000), the paper's authors attribute most of the national growth from 8,000 in the 1970s to nearly 30,000 today to the private sector. Soon after the South African government allowed farmers on private land to own game animals (including giraffe) in 1991, the hunting industry grew, and so did giraffe and other game populations. Private game farmers often use hunting and tourism as complementary sources of income, or choose to focus more on one industry than the other. Whether hunting, tourism or a mixture of these and other activities (eg meat production and livestock) is the better business model to follow will depend on each area's unique circumstances. These include factors such as their location relative to tourist attractions, size of the property and availability of capital and expertise — none of which can be taken into account by Bercovitch's blanket proposal to replace hunting with tourism in all areas. Do rural communities benefit from giraffe hunting? Bercovitch repeats a well-worn myth to support his case that people living in communal areas do not benefit enough from hunting giraffe or other species. Although he does not provide a reference for the statement, 'independent studies suggest as little as 3% of trophy hunting revenue reaches households living near hunting concessions', that figure can be traced back to a 2010 study that used data from hunters in Tanzania, a country that does not allow giraffe hunting. The 3% figure was ripped out of its context, misrepresented and popularised in a report by Economists at Large. It has since been used by anti-hunting lobby groups without a clear explanation of where the figure comes from and what it meant in the original report. Even if presented correctly, it no longer applies to Tanzania (after legal changes that increase community revenues) and has never applied to any other African country. Anyone quoting this figure as though it applies across Africa for all time is misleading the public, and fails to acknowledge that each of the 54 African countries are independent states with their own laws. A more relevant example of southern giraffe hunting on communal lands is north-west Namibia, where communal conservancies host a substantial population of free-roaming giraffe that are subject to a long-term research and monitoring project run by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, GCF. According to SoG25, these conservancies host 16% of the country's Angolan giraffe (a subspecies of southern giraffe), with the neighbouring Etosha National Park hosting 21%. In terms of Namibian giraffe conservation, the conservancies are of similar importance to Etosha, and have been a key part of the growth of Angolan giraffe in range and numbers from 6,690 in 1995 to 13,895 in 2025. Hunting is legal in all communal conservancies, with quotas based on population estimates produced by combining regular game counts with observations by community game guards. Giraffe are on the quota for several conservancies in the northwest for trophy and own use hunting. In Namibia, the hunting revenues generated in a communal conservancy are not paid to the government. The income goes directly to each conservancy based on their respective agreements with registered professional hunting outfitters. The income is then managed by elected committees comprising local community members. Meat from the hunts (including giraffe meat) is distributed to the community immediately after each hunt. Southern Africa is conserving its giraffe through hunting and tourism The evidence and experience from southern Africa that led to the increase of southern giraffe provides a good model for giraffe conservation elsewhere. The national parks are core areas that need to be protected as population strongholds. Once that is achieved, further growth requires incentives for people on private and communal lands beyond national parks to introduce and maintain giraffe populations. Hunting and photographic tourism, either combined or separately, are the two main options for generating income directly from giraffe and other animals on land outside national parks. In southern Africa, both are encouraged and facilitated by national authorities. Achieving the above is easier said than done, as habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, poaching and climate change all threaten the viability of national parks and the giraffe living in them to different degrees. Varying government policies regarding the ownership and use of giraffe further limit the degree to which people living in other African countries can follow the southern African model. Suggestions to ban the legal trade of all giraffe parts from hunting threaten southern giraffe conservation — the only species whose numbers have steadily increased during the past 30 years. The one-size-fits-all policy for giraffe trade in CITES does not match the differing conservation statuses of the giraffe species revealed in SoG25. While the two Endangered and one Vulnerable species require urgent protection from poaching and domestic trade (issues that CITES cannot deal with), there is no reason to undermine southern Africa's successful model for the southern giraffe, which includes legal hunting and international trade. The scientific evidence reveals that countries with stable and growing populations of giraffe (and other wildlife) are those that allow regulated hunting of giraffe, while countries that do not allow hunting have lost most of their giraffe, and remaining populations are in a precarious position. Countries with legal, regulated hunting allow it not because they have healthy and increasing populations of giraffe (and other species), but rather, they have healthy wildlife populations because they allow regulated hunting. While you may not like the idea of a hunter shooting a giraffe, shooting giraffe conservation in the foot — as Pinnock and Bercovitch advocate — is far worse. DM Gail Thomson is with the Namibian Chamber of Environment. This article is co-signed by: Dr Chris Brown, CEO, Namibian Chamber of Environment. Dr Julian Fennessy, Director, Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Dr Jeanetta Selier, Senior Scientist, Biodiversity Research, Assessments and Monitoring, South African National Biodiversity Institute. Angus Middleton, Executive Director, Namibia Nature Foundation. Prof Graham Kerley, Director, Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University. Hazel Milne, Programme Coordinator for Sustainable Tourism Certification, Eco Awards Namibia Alliance. David Peddie, Independent Wildlife Conservation Consultant. Dr John Ledger, PhD, Consulting Editor, African Wildlife & Environment magazine. Dr João Almeida, Director/Wildlife Veterinarian, Mozambique Wildlife Alliance. Dr Richard Hoare, Independent Wildlife Veterinarian, IUCN SSC Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group Member. Colin Nott, Namibia Resource Consultants. Patrick Worms, Senior Fellow, Global Evergreening Alliance. Ruth Moldzio, CEO, Namibia Scientific Society. John Pallett, NEWS (Namibian Environment and Wildlife Society). Theresa Sowry, Southern African Wildlife College. Dr Dilys Roe, Chair, IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi). Prof Adam Hart, University of Gloucestershire, IUCN SULi member. Dr Dan Challender, University of Oxford and IUCN SULi member. Prof Brian Child, University of Florida. Dr Shylock Muyengwa, Director, Resource Africa, South Africa. Prof Amy Dickman, University of Oxford, Lion Landscapes and IUCN SULi member. Nick Funda, Chairperson, Game Rangers Association of Africa, GRAA.
TimesLIVE
27-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Pretoria Zoo celebrates World Giraffe Day by welcoming newborn calf Enzo
When the global community came together to celebrate World Giraffe Day on June 21, the National Zoological Gardens (NZG) in Pretoria had its own reason to celebrate with the arrival of a giraffe calf earlier this month. Born on June 8, the young giraffe is the fifth addition to the NZG's giraffe herd. The birth coincided with World Giraffe Day, an initiative by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) to honour the world's tallest land animal on the year's longest day. The calf was born at the zoo to Momo, an 11-year-old matriarch known for her calm and independent nature. According to Carol Thobela, curator of carnivores, pachyderms, and farm yard at NZG, the calf has begun to show a strong personality. 'We named the calf Enzo, meaning 'ruler of the estate'. It's a strong, bold name that suits the energy we have seen. Even though we don't yet know if Enzo is male or female, the name reflects the confidence and spirit of this little one,' said Thobela. NZG director of animal conservation Tracy Rehse highlighted the importance of understanding giraffe subspecies in supporting global conservation science. 'According to new genetic classifications, the NZG giraffes are assumed to belong to the South African giraffe subspecies Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa, though genetic testing has not yet been conducted to confirm this,' said Rehse. 'Understanding subspecies has helped us align our animal management practices with conservation science and ensures we're contributing meaningful data to global conservation efforts' The giraffes at NZG live in an environment tailored to their natural behaviour and health needs. Elevated feeders mimic tree-top browsing, while night shelters and a surrounding wet moat provide safety and comfort, accounting for giraffes' natural reluctance to cross water. The NZG herd includes a mix of distinctive personalities, including: Tiago, who was born in 2020 and hand-reared by staff, is known for his playful and affectionate nature. Azuri, who was born in 2022, is confident and observant and is often found surveying the zoo from his favourite lookout mound. Bonito, the nine-year-old breeding bull, is food-driven and dominant, approaching staff only when browse is on offer. South African National Biodiversity Institute director of marketing, communications and commercialisation Nontsikelelo Mpulo stressed the broader significance of World Giraffe Day. 'World Giraffe Day is not only about admiring Africa's gentle giants. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness and support for the conservation of giraffes, who are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, poaching and deteriorating ecological infrastructure,' said Mpulo. 'While promoting animal welfare and public education, the zoo also plays an important role in national conservation efforts. Though giraffes are locally classified as Least Concern, the species is globally listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with some subspecies facing a higher risk of extinction.'
IOL News
26-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Introducing Enzo: The adorable baby giraffe born at Pretoria Zoo
Little Enzo the giraffe was born earlier this month at the Pretoria Zoo. Image: Supplied The National Zoological Garden (NZG) in Pretoria has a new face - a baby giraffe who was born earlier this month and is called Enzo, which means 'ruler of the estate'. He was born on June 8, ahead of World Giraffe Day, which was celebrated on June 21. This is a day initiated by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) to honour the world's tallest land animal on the longest day of the year. The Pretoria Zoo is home to five giraffes, each with a unique personality and story. Among the giraffes is Momo, an 11-year-old matriarch known for her calm and independent nature. She gave birth to a healthy calf, a significant and joyful addition to the zoo family, and the team decided to name the little calf Enzo. Carol Thobela, curator: Carnivores, Pachyderms and Farmyard at NZG, said: 'It's a strong, bold name that suits the energy we have seen already, even though we don't yet know if Enzo is a male or female; the name reflects the confidence and spirit of this little one.' Other members of the herd include Tiago, born in 2020 and hand-reared by staff. He is said to be friendly and playful, often showing affection and recognising his caregivers even in a crowd. Azuri, born in 2022, is confident and proud, usually found observing his surroundings from a high vantage point on his favourite mound. Bonito, the 9-year-old breeding bull, is dominant and food-driven; he'll approach staff members, but only if there's browse involved. 'According to new genetic classifications, the NZG giraffes are assumed to belong to the South African giraffe subspecies (G. g. giraffa), although genetic testing has not yet been conducted to confirm this,' Tracy Rehse, director of Animal Conservation, said. She added that understanding subspecies helps them align their animal management practices with conservation science and ensures that they are contributing meaningful data to global conservation efforts. To keep the giraffes healthy and happy, NZG follows a detailed enclosure management plan and a diet sheet created by a specialist team. Their food is offered using elevated feeders to mimic tree-top grazing, while night shelters and a surrounding wet moat provide security and comfort, taking into account the giraffe's natural reluctance to cross water. The zoo also benefits from generous browse donations by the City of Tshwane and local communities, ensuring the animals receive a varied and natural diet. Beyond care and education, NZG also contributes to long-term conservation by collecting and storing genetic material from giraffes and other wildlife as part of South Africa's national genetic repository. Meanwhile, Mokopane Biodiversity Conservation Centre manages a free-roaming group of 15 giraffes on the game reserve, offering a view into how these animals behave in their natural habitat. World Giraffe Day is not just about admiring Africa's gentle giants; it is a day dedicated to raising awareness and support for the conservation of giraffes, who are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and deteriorating ecological infrastructure. While promoting animal welfare and public education, the zoo also plays an important role in national conservation efforts. Although giraffes are locally classified as of least concern, the species is globally listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with some subspecies facing a higher risk of extinction.
Edinburgh Reporter
23-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh's tallest residents enjoy World Giraffe Day
Edinburgh Zoo's tallest residents were enjoying the high life as the attraction celebrated World Giraffe Day at the weekend. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) attraction has since 2021 been home to five male Nubian giraffes named Ronnie, Arrow, Fennessy, Gerald and Gilbert. They live in a £2.8 million state of the art bachelor pad including high level walkways to allow visitors to meet them face-to-face, with an outdoor enclosure the size of a football pitch with some of the best views in the city. The world's tallest animals at up to 18 feet tall, they arrived in Scotland four years ago thanks to a partnership involving the RZSS, the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and sponsors Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The lofty creatures help to educate the public about giraffes' plight in the wild, while the partnership also helps save declining wild populations by funding vital conservation work in Africa. Keepers in Edinburgh marked World Giraffe Day on Saturday with special enrichment for the animals and a range of giraffe-related activities including crafts and games for children. The Zoo said: 'We're proud of our partnership with Giraffe Conservation Foundation and Glenmorangie which helps protect giraffes in Uganda through science and genetic expertise. 'Every ticket to the zoo and giraffe adoption purchased helps protect the species in the wild. Together we can stand tall for giraffes and make a difference.' World Giraffe Day is a GCF initiative to raise awareness and support for giraffe conservation in the wild. It is celebrated each year on June 21, dubbed 'the longest day for the tallest animal'. The Foundation's newly published State of Giraffe 2025 report reveals conservation initiatives are having a positive effect. Despite decades of decline and ongoing threats, three of the four distinct giraffe species in Africa are showing positive population trends as a 'direct result of effective conservation actions, dedicated research, and growing global awareness'. Stephanie Fennessy, GCF's Executive Director, said: '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.' 21/6/2025 World Giraffe Day at Edinburgh Zoo Picture Alan Simpson 21/6/2025 World Giraffe Day at Edinburgh Zoo Picture Alan Simpson 21/6/2025 World Giraffe Day at Edinburgh Zoo Picture Alan Simpson 21/6/2025 World Giraffe Day at Edinburgh Zoo Picture Alan Simpson Like this: Like Related
Indianapolis Star
22-06-2025
- General
- Indianapolis Star
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. The report states that following species of giraffe have seen either improvement or stability in their population:
