The Plight of the Snow Giraffe

The endangered Snow giraffe's numbers have deteriorated so quickly, that finding one to photograph is a rare privilege.

They can only be found in one spot on earth; at the snowy center of Mount Kilimanjaro, an extinct volcano in Africa. 

Snow giraffes live at snow level here because they feed on ice lichens, found growing under the snow on the Eastern Kilimanjaro Ridge.  

But their feeding grounds are fast disappearing due to the rapid ice melt in Kilimanjaro's crater. 

As the ice lichen become more scarce, Snow giraffes resort to eating the birds that keep their hides free of ticks and parasites; Redbilled Oxpeckers.

While this new food source has staved off complete extinction of the Snow giraffe, their numbers continue to decline, as their teeth and digestive system has not yet adapted to eating meat.

So sad.

 

Look closely at the right side of the crater in the photo below; you're looking at one of the last remaining herds of Snow giraffes in existence!

What can you do? 

First, never buy ice lichen at the grocery store.

Second, donate to the Save the Snow Giraffe Fund to help save them from extinction.

And third, have a happy April Fool's Day!  

Just kidding about the Snow giraffe... 

Up next - the plight of the Redbilled Oxpecker    :)