Giraffes Extinction - An animal not a lot of people would guess is becoming extinct little by little is the giraffe. Different and alarming reasons could become the end of the species if something is not done.

The IUCN made a count of the number of giraffes in Africa in 1999. The total was an approximate of 140,000. Now, fifteen year later, the number has dropped to less than 80,000, NY Daily News reported.

"There are nine different races and we're probably going to lose some of them. It's a terrible situation. They could become extinct," said Dr. Anne Dagg, a Canadian giraffe expert.

The main reason behind this possible and progressive extinction is firstly, habitat loss and fragmentation and secondly, but also a major cause, poaching.

Giraffes are killed for their meat and also for their skin. In Tanzania, it is believed that consuming the animal could cure HIV. And according to ABC News, freshly severed heads and giraffe bones can be priced up to $140 a piece.

In addition, in certain parts of Africa, mainly the rural areas, the giraffes are hunted down due to the fact that their meat is "tasty" and a source of income. And in comparison to other animals, the giraffe is rather easy to hunt.

In basics, it's noticeable. Furthermore, the giraffe is not the kind of animal who presents a "fight," but is rather peaceful. So, one single bullet could probably do the job.

"Killing a giraffe involved relatively little effort for the amount of meat yielded as a large quarry can be secured with a single gun-shot," researcher Zoe Muller wrote for the Rothschild Giraffe Project.

Dr Fennessy, the world's only full-time conservationist, told the Daily Mail that everyone loves giraffes, but they are taken for granted. Most people believe that because they see them in zoos, they are everywhere.

Still, be mentioned and highlighted that unless something is done soon, the species will become extinct and it will happen before anyone truly realizes about it.