The world ’s major summit on the craft in endangered species opened this weekend , which will see countries try and base the good way to crack down on and supervise the illegal barter in wildlife .
The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species ( CITES ) 17th Conference of Parties ( CoP ) isconsidered by many conservationistsas a last - ditch attempt in save many of the world ’s most iconic species . The summit run from September 24 to October 5 .
The summit is take place in Johannesburg , South Africa , with interpreter of 181 land look to advert the outside confluence . CITES is a treaty make in 1975 that aims to protect endangered species by undertake the illegal wildlife trade , thought to be deserving up to$20 billionannually . Currently , there are35,000 species protectedunder cite , of which 5,600 are animals .
This year ’s conference will see the land talk over and vote on 62 proposal concerning the swop of around 500 different coinage , submitted by wildlife expert from around the globe . The principal focus , however , will likely be around the remaining legal trade in ivory , which many country desire to straight-out ban . Some , however , are hold out that move , arguing instead that restrictions should be loosened , which would provide them to sell off stockpiles of impound tusk .
Other specie likely to share the spotlight are rhinos , which have seen a grave spike in poach over the last five years , and anteater – the little - known scaly banded anteater that have the awkward title of the most trafficked mammal in the world .
The flaky - looking pangolin is the existence ’s most lawlessly trafficked mammal . 2630ben / Shutterstock
“ We all make love the challenge we have been confronting in tackle the spate in illegal wildlife trade , peculiarly as it regard elephant , pangolins and rhinos , ” Secretary General for CITES , John E. Scanlon , saidduring his opening speech . " We also know of the challenges in ensuring sustainable and sound trade , include in heel pythons , rosewood tree and sharks .
“ CoP17 is not just about describing the challenge , it is about reviewing what we have been doing to meet them and determining what more must be done . And we have much to report to this CoP. important progress has been made since we last met in 2013 , politically , financially and technically . ”
Already , reports have been coming outabout the state of some of these species . The former figure on the number of elephant have revealed a shocking motion-picture show of their decline , finding that 111,000 elephants were poach over the last 10 years . This means that around 50 have been killed per day over the last decennium .
“ These raw numbers reveal the truly alarming plight of the gallant elephant – one of the world ’s most intelligent animals and the enceinte terrestrial mammal live today,”explainsIUCN Director General Inger Andersen . “ It is shocking but not surprising that poaching has taken such a striking toll on this iconic species . This study provides further scientific grounds of the need to surmount up effort to combat poaching . ”
It is hoped that within the next 10 sidereal day , we will see motions passed to increase the trade protection for not only elephants , but a whole array of other fauna and works menace by poacher ' desire for pelts , meat , favourite , and traditional remedies taken from the wild .
A rhino ’s horn is removed to protect it from poaching in South Africa . Snap2Art / Shutterstock
