March 16, 2020

Poaching of rare white giraffes major blow to conservation

topic:	Hunting & Poaching
located:	Kenya
editor:	Bob Koigi

The devastating news of the recent killing of a rare white giraffe and her calf by poachers in Kenya has brought to light the mounting challenges of conservation and the growing threat of poaching despite heightened efforts to contain it.

The two white giraffes went viral in 2017 after they were spotted at a conservation sanctuary in Northern Kenya due to their alabaster colour, have a condition called leucism, which causes partial loss of skin pigmentation. These unique breeds, christened reticulated giraffes, are an endangered species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 

Their poaching also highlights the threats animals continue to face from killing for their meat and hide, and loss of habitat occasioned by human activities like agriculture, land clearing for firewood and the growing development of infrastructure. The global giraffe population has been under threat due to this menace, as is the case with elephants and rhinos. Their numbers have fallen precipitously in the last 30 years with researchers placing that loss at 40 per cent.

Even as the investigations around the death of the white giraffes continue, the growing concern is what the global conservation family is doing in the wake of unprecedented trafficking in wild animals, which has become sophisticated, daring and alarming. Despite current events, governments, conservationists and international bodies insist they have put in place measures to protect wildlife. Is it time to rethink or overhaul the current approaches to conservation and protecting endangered species? How many others will die of poaching before the world shows a real commitment to protecting our wildlife?

READ also about the mass extinction of the RHINOS and what to do against it. 

Image: Youtube

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