The South African population of Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa is estimated at between 21,053 and 26,919 individuals, of which between 11,411 and 14,860 individuals occur within national and provincial nature reserves. The species is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Regional Red List, the national population is well managed and increasing, and the species is protected by provincial legislation throughout South Africa.
Inclusion of the giraffe in Appendix II to CITES will not benefit the conservation of the species, nor will it address the threats facing giraffes in East, West, North and Central Africa, i.e. habitat loss and fragmentation, civil unrest, illegal hunting for bushmeat and ecological changes. International trade is not an emerging threat to the giraffe and is in fact confined to southern Africa where a healthy wildlife economy, which is underpinned by sustainable use, incentivizes communities and private landowners to conserve the species. International trade in giraffe specimens from other parts of Africa is negligible (to potentially non-existent).