August 17, 2010
Niger poachers target rare West African Giraffe
By Staff Writers
Niamey (AFP) Aug 16, 2010
Poachers in Niger killed two baby West African Giraffes, the first attack on the endangered species in the country for 20 years, an environment official said on Monday. “In less than a month, we have recorded two giraffe deaths linked to poaching,” Colonel Malam Issa, who heads Niger’s environment and wildlife efforts, told AFP. One of the giraffes had its foot “completely broken” after stepping into a trap, and the other had a foot tendon “systematically cut”, Issa said. “These are the first cases of poaching since we started tracking these giraffes 20 years ago,” said Omer Dovi from the Association to Safeguard the Giraffes of Niger (ASGN). …
