The critically endangered Snow Giraffe can only be found in one spot on earth; at the snowy center of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa.
But their numbers are deteriorating so quickly that finding one to photograph is rare.
These giraffes live at snow level because they feed on ice lichens, found growing under the snow on the Kilimanjaro ridge.
During deep snowfalls, however, they must dig for long hours to find enough lichens to live on.
Though living on Kilimanjaro protects them from poachers, who can get $100,000 for Snow giraffe horns, their feeding grounds are fast disappearing due to the rapid ice melt in Kilimanjaro’s crater. Without snow, the ice lichens die.
As ice lichens becomes more scarce, Snow giraffes have resorted to eating the birds that keep their hides free of ticks and parasites;
Red-billed Oxpeckers.
And while this new food source has staved off starvation, Snow giraffes have not yet adapted well to eating meat.
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, and certainly stop drinking the green smoothies that contain this plant.
Second, donate to the Save the Snow Giraffe Fund now to help save them from extinction.
And third, have a happy April Fool’s Day!
Up next – The Sad Plight of the Red-billed Oxpecker 🙂
