The majestic giraffes of Africa are in trouble, and environmental groups have lodged a formal request with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to reclassify the animals as an endangered species before the iconic long-necks undergo a "silent extinction." The International Union for the Conservation of Nature announced in December that the sub-Saharan population of giraffes has dropped below 100,000 for the first time ever, and the organization has listed the species as threatened. Their numbers have declined nearly 40 percent in 30 years, they say. "Giraffes have been dying off silently for decades, and we have to act quickly before they disappear forever," said Tanya Sanerib with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the petitioning groups. "There are now fewer giraffes than elephants in Africa. It's time for the United States to step up and protect these extraordinary creatures." Giraffes have faced numerous human-related pressures, such as loss of habitats, collisions with