Threat of extinction towers over giraffe population

Giraffes are vanishing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature moved the land-based animals up to “vulnerable” status. Giraffes are at high risk for extinction.

Its population has been decreasing by nearly 40% over the last thirty years.

“With the recent IUCN announcement about moving giraffes up on the red list, that’s a really good thing because we’ve seen that problem for a long time and now all the press that that’s generating is bringing the attention the public,” said Rich Block, CEO of Santa Barbara Zoo.

The local zoo is part of a network with other West Coast Zoos. Together, they breed, research and help giraffes.