Fish and Wildlife Service November 21, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 12-month finding on a petition to list the giraffe (including its subspecies) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act or ESA). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that the following listing actions are warranted: We propose to list all three subspecies of the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)the West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta), the Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), and the Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis)as endangered species under Act. We also propose to list the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) and the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), both from east Africa, as threatened species with protective regulations issued under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). After a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that, based on the Act's section 4(a)(1) factors, it is not warranted at this time to list either subspecies of the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa)the Angolan giraffe (Giraffa giraffa angolensis) and the South African giraffe (Giraffa giraffa giraffa)but we are proposing, under the authority of section 4(e) of the Act, to treat both of these subspecies as threatened species based on their similarity of appearance to the West African giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, Nubian giraffe, reticulated giraffe, and Masai giraffe. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add all giraffes to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, under the authority of either section 4(a)(1) or 4(e) of the Act, and extend the Act's protections to these taxa.