The Association to Safeguard Giraffes in Niger (ASGN, L'Association de sauvegarde des girafes du Niger) is an organization formed to help the giraffes of

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesagricultural expansion. The ASGN was founded by French ethologist Isabelle Ciofolo in 1994 with the objective of saving the last population of

West African Giraffe The West African giraffe (''Giraffa camelopardalis peralta''), Niger giraffe or Nigerien giraffe is a subspecies of the giraffe distinguished by its light colored spots. It is found in the Sahel of West Africa. In the 19th century it ranged fr ...

s in Niger, a highly endangered species. When the society was formed there were only 50 individuals of the species surviving in the country. The ASGN managed to obtain the establishment of a protected zone for giraffes in the Kouré region within which all poaching is prohibited. The society encourages

eco-tourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...

, employing local people as far as possible. By 2007 a total of 164 giraffes were counted in the park. ASGN has engaged in protecting giraffe habitats, educating the local community about giraffes, extending microloans, and offering other forms of assistance to villagers within the giraffe-inhabited areas. It has also participated in an annual giraffe census. ASGN and its partners have assisted the local community with boreholes, cereal banks, grain mills, seeds and fertilizer to encourage them to protect the giraffes, which can be destructive to crops. However, the population of giraffes is threatened by loss of its habitat, the tiger bush, which is gradually being cleared for agriculture. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) partners with the ASGN in conservation efforts. The AWF is helping with reforestation. In August 2010, a tree nursery in Kouré produced about 3,500 seedlings. AWF planned to establish another nursery in the area in 2011.

References

{{reflist , refs= {{cite web , url=http://www.zoo-maubeuge.images-en-france.fr/asgn-association-sauvegarde-girafe-niger.html , title=ASGN Association de sauvegarde de la girafe du Niger , language=French , publisher=Zoo de Maubeuge , accessdate=2011-10-17 Wildlife conservation organizations Mammal conservation Giraffes Organisations based in Niger Organizations established in 1996 Wildlife conservation in Niger