With the first official Summer and the longest day June 21st (or night depending on the hemisphere), we celebrate the animals with the longest neck in the animal kingdom – the mighty giraffes. 
This holiday started as an initiative by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). The celebration of the majestic giraffes is not just a worldwide appreciation, but also a serious annual event made to raise awareness and to address the difficulties they face every day in the wild.
This year, the holiday is dedicated to the “Operation Twiga III” (Twiga is Swahili for giraffe), a translocation operation for a Nubian giraffe in Uganda.
Giraffes made the Red List of Threatened Species and they are listed as vulnerable. In the last 30 years, the number of giraffes in Africa has declined by 40%. The estimate is that there are less than 100 000 giraffes remaining in Africa.
How can you celebrate this day:
- Get in touch with the “Operation Twiga” organization and submit a donation if you can
- Visit your local ZOO and enjoy the company of the lovely giraffes there.
- Educate yourself on the subject of giraffe extinction and conservation.
- Watch a documentary about giraffes.
- Spread the word about their current situation on your social media accounts.
Happy World Giraffe Day!
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