Giraffes must be protected from a trophy hunting loophole as they face "silent extinction", campaigners have said as MPs pressure Michael Gove to act.

As it stands, the elegant creatures are currently given no protection by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which means they can be killed indiscriminately, with their carcasses exported around the globe as trophies.

As the species has declined by up to 40 percent in the past 30 years, animal rights organisations, celebrities and MPs have urged our government and the EU to pressure CITES to classify giraffes as Appendix II animals, meaning they would be given protection against the trophy hunting trade.

Celebrities including Martin Clunes OBE, Deborah Meaden, Susan George, Virginia McKenna OBE, Brian Blessed OBE, and Fiona Shaw CBE, have written to EU Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella urging him to support a proposal by African nations to protect the imperiled giraffe.

The proposal will be discussed at a meeting of CITES in Colombo, Sri Lanka starting in late May, but its success hinges on the support of the EU voting block.

The letter reads: “The world’s tallest mammal is beloved by many for its beauty and grace. This iconic species is suffering a 'silent extinction' because few are aware of their plight. Giraffe populations have decreased approximately 40% in the last 30 years. If we do not act quickly the giraffe could disappear forever.”