Region: Global

Humane Society International / Global

Mark Simmons/HSI
This release has been corrected.

GENEVA—One hundred and thirty-five* wild animal species received protections against unsustainable international trade at the 18th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) that concluded today in Geneva. Most species received protection for the first time while some received increased protection. Nations gathered as the world looks on in horror at images of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest in flames, and dire warnings earlier this year of an extinction crisis still fresh in delegates’ minds.

Teresa Telecky, vice president for wildlife at global animal protection charity Humane Society International, said from the CoP in Geneva: “With the backdrop of forest fires burning in the Amazon, it was heartening to see governments at CITES agree to vital extra protections for 135 species of wild animal, including mako sharks who fall victim to the fin trade, giraffes killed and sold for trophies, baby African elephants ripped from their families for foreign zoos, and geckos and lizards stolen from the wilderness for the pet trade. Realising that our planet’s wildlife face ever increasing threats in all corners of the globe, the mood of this conference has felt more in favour of protection from the pressures of commercial exploitation, rejecting arguments for reckless trade in animals and their body parts.”

In May, a report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services warned that 1 million of the world’s estimated 8 million species are threatened with extinction, that the rate of species extinction is accelerating, that direct exploitation is one of the main culprits, and that unsustainable food production is destroying wildlife ecosystems.

Jeffrey Flocken, president of Humane Society International, said: “The world is waking up to the reality that we are at a turning point for saving our planet’s wildlife. Thankfully, the countries of the planet seem to be shifting their focus from exploiting animals to protecting them.”

Quotes from HSI experts on species voted on at CITES

Ivory trade
Iris Ho, senior wildlife specialist at Humane Society International, said: “It was a relief that the status quo for ivory was maintained. While Humane Society International would have preferred CITES to have supported the plea from the African Elephant Coalition for all elephant populations to be listed on Appendix I to send an unambiguously clear signal that the international community has zero tolerance for the ivory, we are pleased that proposals to trade elephant and rhino ivory submitted to this conference were rejected.” 

Live trade in African elephants
Audrey Delsink, wildlife director for Humane Society International/Africa said: “Humane Society International was jubilant that CITES agreed to end the heinous trade in live baby elephants. No young elephant should ever suffer the trauma of being stolen from its mother for a lonely miserable life in captivity overseas. We thank all of the celebrities and supporters who joined the campaign to win this historic vote.”

Giraffes
Adam Peyman, programs and operations manager for wildlife at Humane Society International, said: “Giraffes have been quietly slipping toward extinction, in part due to poaching for international trade in their parts. Thankfully, the CITES Parties agreed to protect giraffe for the first time. Trade control measures will help to ensure that giraffe parts are legally acquired and not detrimental to the survival of the species.”

Sharks and rays
Rebecca Regnery, senior director for wildlife at Humane Society International, said: “Species in the shark and ray family will now get more help to withstand the voracious demand from the global trade in their fins. CITES agreed to list long and short fin mako sharks and species of giant guitarfish and wedgefish in Appendix II for trade to be regulated. This will put pressure on fisheries managers to stop the brutal practice of shark finning.” 

Otters
Mark Simmonds, senior marine expert at Humane Society International, said: “We are very pleased to see two Asian otter species gain the protection of listing on CITES Appendix I. Both the small-clawed otter and the smooth-coated otter are being driven to extinction by a number of factors, including an explosion of interest in keeping them as pets in Japan and elsewhere. An end to their commercial international trade is now in sight.”

Reptiles and amphibians
Sumanth Bindumadhav, wildlife campaign manager for Humane Society International/India, said: “The pet trade will now face more controls on its voracious appetite for the world’s spectacular and unique reptiles. A suite of lizard species from Sri Lanka were listed in Appendix I, along with the tiny gecko endemic to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Four gecko species from China and South East Asia (Tokay, Tiger, Cave and Leopard) and another from Madagascar were listed in Appendix II. Sadly, proposals to end the trade in stunning garden lizards from Sri Lanka faced opposition from the EU and failed to gain protections despite being endangered and regularly on sale in Europe and the USA.”

Grettel Delgadillo, deputy director of Humane Society International/Latin America, said: “It was deeply frustrating that European voting bloc thwarted protection for 104 species of glass frog from Amazon rainforests. This was especially galling when only modest trade controls were requested by South and Central American countries, and when it is EU citizens who are the major customers of the tiny frogs for exotic pet collections. It was regrettably clear at the conference that the powerful pet lobby still holds much sway over the 28 nation bloc.”

Indian star tortoises
Sumanth Bindumadhav, wildlife campaign manager for Humane Society International/India, said: “The Indian star tortoise is a victim of the international pet trade that sees them illegally caught in the wild and sold in markets across the world. We are much relieved that the threat they face has been recognized by CITES Parties, and that their protection status has been increased as a result. A commercial trade ban on this species under CITES can now be a vital defence against ruthless exotic pet traders who are decimating this tortoise populations for the selfish benefit of collectors in Europe and Asia.”

Trophy hunting quotas
CITES Parties agreed to tighten oversight of export quotas for species listed on CITES Appendix I including leopard, cheetah, markhor and black rhino. The quotas will be subject to a review at least every nine years (or sooner if determined necessary) to ensure that the population of the species in the range state concerned can sustain the agreed quota. HSI is disappointed that South Africa was granted an increase to its quota for exporting rhino trophies from five to nine.

Teresa Telecky, vice president for wildlife at Humane Society International, said, “For far too long, the Conference of the Parties to CITES has set quotas for export of Appendix I species and then left them in place despite the deteriorating conservation status of the species concerned. While HSI strongly opposes trophy hunting, this time-bound review process is an overdue acknowledgment by the CITES Parties that export quotas for Appendix I species must be routinely reviewed and subject to scientific scrutiny.” 

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*An earlier version of this news release erroneously stated that 139 species received new or increased protection at CITES. The correct number is 135.

This momentous decision will save countless elephants from being snatched from their families and natural environment, says Humane Society International at CITES CoP18 in Geneva

Humane Society International / Global

GENEVA—Wildlife experts from animal protection charity Humane Society International are celebrating a momentous win for elephants at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), where delegates have just affirmed in plenary the decision to limit the controversial trade of wild-caught African elephants from Zimbabwe and Botswana to zoos

The European Union presented a series of amendments to last week’s decision which would allow trade of wild-caught elephants from Zimbabwe and Botswana to zoos only if approved by the CITES Animals Committee, in consultation with the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group, an expert group that has publicly stated it does not believe there to be conservation benefits to wild caught elephants being sent to captive facilities. The amended text was passed by a vote of 87 in favour, 29 opposing and 25 abstaining.

Notably, the United States opposed both the original and amended proposal.

Audrey Delsink, wildlife director at Humane Society International/Africa says: “This is a momentous CITES decision for Africa’s elephants and despite compromised language being introduced by the EU, we are relieved by its passing. While it is disappointing that it is not an outright ban on trade in live elephants, the new language adds vital independent oversight and scrutiny. Speaking personally as an elephant field biologist I am jubilant that we have secured this victory for all the elephants who will now be spared the ordeal of being ripped away from their families. The capture of wild African elephants for export to zoos and other captive facilities is incredibly traumatizing for individual elephants as well as their social groups. Public sentiment is shifting, and people are increasingly outraged at the senseless and cruel practice of snatching baby elephants from the wild to live a life as a zoo exhibit.

“Countless elephant experts, animal lovers and celebrities from around the world urged countries to end this injustice by affirming the CITES ban, and we are so glad that our collective voices were heard. The definition of what is an appropriate destination is key, and the independent oversight by elephant specialists is critical, and so we will remain vigilant as that discussion develops, and fight against any attempts to justify or prolong trade in live baby elephants for captive purposes. We are extremely grateful to Kenya and the African Elephant Coalition for their efforts to protect wild African elephants.”

African elephants in Zimbabwe and Botswana are currently listed on Appendix II of CITES with an annotation that allows live elephants to be exported to “appropriate and acceptable” destinations. Under this definition, Zimbabwe has been capturing live baby African elephants in the wild and exporting them to zoos in China and elsewhere.

The practice has been highly controversial, drawing the condemnation of animal protection and conservation groups as well as elephant scientists who note that elephants are complex creatures who suffer both physically and psychologically as a result of captivity.

During the CITES conference, conservationist Dr Jane Goodall issued a statement of concern, and a host of celebrities such as Joanna Lumley, Ricky Gervais, Judi Dench, Pamela Anders and others submitted an open letter to European Union officials, calling on them not to oppose the CITES ban on trade in wild-caught baby African elephants ripped from their families and shipped off to foreign zoos.

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Humane Society International / Global

CITES

GENEVA—Tropical rainforests in Central America will continue to be plundered for tiny translucent glass frogs to supply the pet trade in Europe and elsewhere, after a proposal for international trade controls failed at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), largely due to the 28 countries in the European Union voting against protections. Glass frogs have become popular in the pet trade due to their unique transparent skin which shows their internal organs. The proposal to give glass frogs Appendix II protection lost by just one vote, and animal protection charity Humane Society International hopes there may yet be a chance to secure the necessary votes in plenary later this week.

The European Union is a key destination for amphibian and reptile species such as glass frogs, iguanas and geckos—animals that are popular in the exotic pet trade. This trade is often illegal and, even when it is legal, is harmful to wild populations. More than 30,000 live reptiles were confiscated from the EU between 2001 and 2010, and glass frogs are regularly sold on the internet and at reptile and amphibian fairs in Europe. Yet, despite the European Union’s role as a major consumer of glass frogs, the voting bloc failed to support protections for animals negatively impacted by European demand.

The proposal from Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras to give trade protections to 104 species of glass frogs received  overwhelming support from the  majority of other countries that are home to the species in Latin America, but failed to reach the 2/3 majority required to be successful. It was opposed by the 28 countries in the EU.

Grettel Delgadillo, deputy director of Humane Society International/Latin America, says: “The international pet trade threatens the very survival of glass frogs and many newt species such as the crocodile newt and Asian warty newt, which are also collected for food. Glass frogs are astonishingly beautiful, almost entirely transparent creatures which is why they have soared in popularity in recent years, regularly advertised for sale on the internet for buyers in the United States and Europe. Yet this trade is slowly killing off populations so it is a major blow to conservation efforts on the ground and around the world that CITES parties failed to better protect these creatures. This failure is in large part due to the European Union’s shameful opposition; the EU is a huge consumer of glass frogs for the pet trade and therefore directly contributes to this species’ demise.”

A proposal by China, Viet Nam and the European Union seeking to protect 40 currently unlisted newt species also in high demand for the pet trade succeeded.

Humane Society International commends the proponent governments for seeking to bring the greedy pet trade in amphibians under CITES control but regrets the EU did not see fit to give CITES protection to the glass frogs.

The decisions will need to be approved in a plenary session at the CITES meeting on August 27/28.

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Bid for the extinct mammoth to provide a life-line for elephants from beyond the grave withdrawn, but study is a first step but does not go far enough, says Humane Society International at CITES CoP18 in Geneva

Humane Society International / Global

iStock.com (Not a mammoth)

GENEVA—A proposal to list the extinct woolly mammoth on Appendix II was withdrawn at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva.

Instead, the Parties agreed that the CITES Secretariat will commission a study on the trade in mammoth ivory and its contribution to the illegal trade of elephant ivory. The amendment was brought to the floor by proponent country Israel after countries expressed division on the original proposal.  Humane Society International/Africa’s wildlife director and elephant expert had hailed the original proposal as a “proactive step to stop the mammoth’s genetic cousin from following in its giant footsteps by slipping into extinction.” Mrs Delsink today expressed her regret that the proposal has been withdrawn, but welcomed the study as an important first step.”

The original proposal sought to regulate the trade in mammoth ivory in order to address elephant ivory trafficking. Although mammoths have long been extinct, wildlife traffickers often launder elephant ivory by claiming it is mammoth ivory. An Appendix II listing would not end the trade in mammoth ivory but would regulate the trade to ensure that mammoth ivory entering the wildlife trade is truly from mammoths and not elephants. It is predicted that increasing amounts of mammoth ivory will be exhumed as climate change thaws permafrost environments.

Audrey Delsink, Humane Society International/Africa’s wildlife director, says: “There is a growing trade in mammoth ivory which can be used to launder illegal elephant ivory. Although international trade in elephant ivory has been banned since 1990, traffickers often try to pass off elephant ivory as legal mammoth ivory to circumvent the ban, because of its near identical appearance. Traders sometimes mix the two ivories together, and in the absence of an immediate, reliable and cost-effective test to distinguish between the two, the market in mammoth ivory is providing a dangerous cover for poached elephant ivory. While we would have been pleased to see CITES nations taking more proactive steps to stop the mammoth’s genetic cousin from following in its giant footsteps by slipping into extinction, we nonetheless welcome the study as an important first step in addressing this issue and urge them to go further to truly counteract this threat to elephants.”

The decision needs to be ratified at the plenary session of the CITES conference on August 27/28th.

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Humane Society International / Global

CITES

GENEVA—A ban on international commercial trade in the Asian small-clawed otter has been agreed by an overwhelming majority by world leaders attending the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP18), being held in Geneva, Switzerland. Countries voted to list the Asian small-clawed otter on Appendix I, in addition to an earlier vote to also list the smooth-coated otter on Appendix I. Humane Society International/India and its global affiliate Humane Society International, part of one of the largest global animal protection charities in the world, welcomes the CITES uplisting as essential to the survival of these species.

Mark Simmonds, senior marine scientist at Humane Society International, said: “A wide variety of threats is adversely affecting the Asian small-clawed otter in the wild, such as habitat loss, pollution, and the fur trade, but increasingly it is persecution for the pet trade that is proving its downfall. This is the smallest and arguably the ‘cutest’ of all the otter species, and interest in them, fanned by photos and film on social media, means that a market for live pet animals has been swiftly growing in Asia. They are increasingly being seen in coffee shops in Japan and elsewhere where they are used as props to entice customers who share their experiences on social media platforms like Instagram, thus perpetuating the otter craze.

“With so much stacked against these otters, who are now classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, we are delighted that they will now benefit from this very welcome, precautionary agreement to give them the highest protection at CITES. The Appendix I listing effectively bans international trade for commercial purposes and removes one of the key threats that they face. This isn’t the end of the story however. We urgently need other complementary conservation initiatives to truly tackle the otter’s demise, and so we hope that this new CITES listing will act as a call to action. We commend India, Nepal, the Philippines and Bangladesh for bringing both the otter proposals forward, and all the countries and conservation organizations that supported them.”  

Sumanth Bindumadhav, HSI/India’s wildlife campaign manager who presented an intervention on the floor of CITES CoP on behalf of 24 other national and international non-profit organisations, said: “HSI/India has long highlighted the myriad threats faced by the small-clawed and smooth-coated otters, so we are delighted by these important CITES actions. Appendix I listings will send an important and timely warning, not least to online and social media audiences, that these are imperilled species and that trade in them is harmful to their welfare and their overall species survival. We hope that it will also lead to additional trade controls, enhanced scrutiny of captive-breeding operations, and aid enforcement, given the challenge in distinguishing between tropical Asian otter species once in trade.”

The decision needs to be ratified at the plenary session of the CITES conference on August 27/28th.

Media Contacts:

Shambhavi Tiwari, +91 8879834125 stiwari@hsi.org

Media contact at CITES CoP in Geneva: Sumanth Bindumadhav, +91 99808 72975 sbindumadhav@hsi.org

Goodall sends plea to EU; follows open letter from Ricky Gervais, Simon Pegg, Leona Lewis, Dame Judi Dench, Alesha Dixon, Brigitte Bardot, Pamela Anderson, Thandie Newton, Evanna Lynch, Virginia McKenna, Joanna Lumley and Bryan Adams

Humane Society International / Europe

JGI

GENEVA–World-renowned conservationist Jane Goodall Ph.D., DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and UN Messenger of Peace, has issued a heart-felt plea to the European Union not to overturn a ban passed this week at the CITES wildlife trade conference in Geneva that would end the capture of baby African elephants from the wild for export to zoos and circuses in China, the USA and elsewhere.

The ban was voted on and passed by the required 2/3 majority vote in Committee I of CITES largely because the EU was unable to vote due to a procedural issue (it had not yet filed its credentials). However a representative for the European Commission took to the floor to speak against the ban, and with its credentials now in order, the voting bloc of 28 looks set to oppose the decision in the plenary next week.

Dr. Goodall said: “This is to say that I am absolutely shocked at the thought of capturing young elephants, taking them from their families, and sending them off to a future which will inevitably involve a great deal of trauma and suffering. The bonds between infant elephants and their mothers are as strong and enduring – in some cases more so – as those between human children and their mothers.  To break that bond is cruel and inhumane. I cannot imagine any caring person agreeing to such an unethical proposal and I hope with all my heart that the EU will not vote against the provisional decision taken in CITES with a two thirds majority.”

Dr. Goodall’s message to the EU follows an open letter signed by a host of stars such as Ricky Gervais, Simon Pegg, Leona Lewis, Dame Judi Dench, Alesha Dixon, Evanna Lynch, Bryan Adams, Virginia McKenna, Thandie Newton, Pamela Anderson, Peter Egan and Jenny Seagrove. The letter was co-ordinated by Humane Society International, the Born Free Foundation, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, World Animal Protection, and David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

Jeffrey Flocken, President of Humane Society International said: “The capture of African elephants from Zimbabwe and Botswana to captive facilities is highly controversial. These highly social and emotional creatures can suffer physically and psychologically in captivity. There is no excuse for allowing this heartless trade to continue. As a 28-country voting bloc, the European Union’s vote is substantial and could easily overturn the decision if it chooses to oppose the ban. We hope EU leaders take heed of Dr. Goodall’s wise words and won’t condemn more elephant families to being ripped apart.”

Ian Redmond, tropical field biologist and conservationist who is renowned for his work with great apes and elephants, also expressed his opposition to the live elephant trade, saying: “Having studied elephants, I know how important an elephant’s childhood is – every elephant child learns how to thrive in their family’s habitat and that habitat benefits from the elephants. To separate a young elephant from his or her family for a life of social and sensory deprivation in captivity is bad for the captive, bad for the grieving family left behind, and bad for the habitat.”

At present, African elephants in Zimbabwe and Botswana are allowed to be captured and exported to so-called “appropriate and acceptable” destinations based on the annotation to the Appendix II listing of their elephant populations. However, it is under these conditions that Zimbabwe has captured more than 100 live baby African elephants in the wild and exported them to zoos in China since 2012. If the EU supports the ban and it is voted through, such international trade in live wild African elephants from Zimbabwe and Botswana will cease and be limited to only “in situ conservation programmes or secure areas in the wild within the species’ natural range, except in the case of temporary transfers in emergency situations.”

Photos, video and interviews

Wildlife experts from HSI attending CITES are available for interview on request. Photos and video of the baby elephant captures are also available here.

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 Media contacts:

  • Humane Society International – Wendy Higgins, director of international media, whiggins@hsi.org, tel. +44 (0) 7989 972 423
  • Jane Goodall Institute – Shawn Sweeney, senior director of community engagement, ssweeney@janegoodall.org, tel. 703.682.9283

Humane Society International / Global

Vanessa Mignon

GENEVA—In a great relief to conservationists, governments at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) have shown no appetite for lifting bans on trade in rhinos and their horns.

The government of Eswatini had put forward a dangerous proposal to downgrade protection for its tiny southern white rhino population from Appendix I to Appendix II in order to allow commercial trade in rhino parts included its horn.

Namibia had proposed downgrading its rhino population to Appendix II in order to allow commercial trade in live animals and hunting trophies. The populations of both countries are highly vulnerable to poaching.

Adam Peyman, HSI’s Wildlife Programs and Operations Manager, says “The international trade in rhino horn has been banned since 1977, and to reopen it would be a disaster for the survival and welfare of this magnificent species. So seeing Eswatini’s dangerous proposal defeated at CITES is a huge relief for all of us dedicated to preserving the rhino for future generations. There are only 66 southern white rhinos left in the wild in Eswatini, so opening up trade internationally in their horn would not only almost certainly be the final nail in the coffin for this species nationally, but it would very likely result in increased poaching in other rhino range states in Asia and Africa, as well as increased demand for horn in Asia. Law enforcement officers are struggling enough as it is to hold back the tide of rhino poaching and trafficking. To have a hope of saving rhinos from extinction, the ban on global commercial trade needs to hold firm.” 

“There are only 1,037 southern white rhino left in the wild in Namibia, and across Africa they are considered Near Threatened, so defeating Namibia’s attempt to reduce CITES protections was an important victory for the survival of this species. Namibia’s conviction rate for poaching is already woefully inadequate so any reduction in protections would have been highly dangerous and irresponsible,” said Mr. Peyman.

The decisions will need to be approved in a plenary session at the CITES meeting on August 27/28.

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Humane Society International / Global

GENEVA—Critically endangered giant guitarfish and wedgefish rays have a better chance against extinction thanks to international trade controls agreed today at the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting.

Governments reached agreement in a decisive vote on Appendix II listings on proposals for six species of giant guitarfish and ten species of wedgefish. They were each co-sponsored by record breaking numbers of countries, led by Senegal and Sri Lanka.

CITES Appendix II listings means trade in the species’ meat and fins in these critically endangered species must now be regulated. White-spotted wedgefish made up the highest percentage of species in the Singapore fin trade in a recent study.

Rebecca Regnery, Humane Society International wildlife senior director, says: “Over-fishing, including for the lucrative Asian shark fin market, is having a devastating impact on guitarfish and wedgefish. New estimates show that guitarfishes and wedgefishes are already Critically Endangered so the deadly consequence of this trade cannot be overestimated.

Regnery intervened in the debate on behalf of the marine NGO community and said: “When most people think about sharks, they forget about or perhaps do not even know about the flat-bodied species like the giant guitarfishes. Yet these are some of the most valuable and under-protected shark-like species found in trade. And because of that, their populations have been seriously depleted worldwide.”

Humane Society International strongly commends the more than 60 governments led by Senegal and Sri Lanka who co-sponsored the guitarfish and wedgefish proposals and brought them this much needed protection.  They join two species of mako shark listed earlier today.

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An important first step in stopping the brutally cruel & wasteful trade, says Humane Society International

Humane Society International / Global

Wildestanimal/Alamy Stock Photo Short fin mako shark swimming off Western Cape, South Africa

GENEVA—Fast swimming mako sharks have a better chance of escaping extinction thanks to global trade controls agreed today at the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting.

The short and longfin mako shark proposal, led by Mexico and also backed by multiple countries, faced fierce opposition from countries reluctant to see CITES involvement in industrial scale pelagic fisheries. After heated long debate the two mako species were listed in Appendix II with 102 countries voting in favor, 40 opposed and 5 abstentions achieving the 2/3 majority required.

CITES Appendix II listings means international trade in the species’ meat and fins must be regulated. This will prompt regional fishing management organisations to address their woeful neglect of mako sharks caught in longline fisheries.

Rebecca Regnery, Humane Society International wildlife senior director, says: “Over-fishing, including for the lucrative Asian shark fin market, is having a devastating impact on longfin and shortfin mako sharks. Securing CITES protections for these species is an important first step in stopping the brutally cruel and wasteful practice in which sharks and rays have their fins cut off their bodies, sometimes while fully conscious.”

“But Appendix II protection doesn’t in itself ban trade, so to secure the future for these sharks and rays, this new CITES listings needs to be the start of a whole raft of other measures aimed at cracking down on this vile trade,” concluded Ms Regnery.

Humane Society International strongly commends the governments led by Mexico, Senegal and Sri Lanka who co-sponsored the mako shark proposal and brought them this much needed protection.

CITES debate has now moved to proposals to list species of wedgefish and guitarfish also in the shark and ray family.

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Commercial trade in ivory is the biggest threat to the survival of African elephants, says Humane Society International

Humane Society International / Global

Iris Ho/HSI Seized elephant ivory in Kenya waiting to be destroyed, 2016

GENEVA—Elephant advocates are celebrating in Geneva as the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has today roundly rejected proposals to open up international commercial trade in elephant ivory.

Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe had proposed they be allowed to lift restrictions on their Appendix II CITES listings to allow trade in registered government-owned ivory stock piles. They offered a floor amendment to allow a one-off sale followed by a six-year moratorium. The amended proposal was defeated with only 23 countries in support, 101 opposing and 18 abstentions. Zambia proposed that its elephant population be down listed from Appendix I to Appendix II, also so that it could trade in its registered raw ivory and other elephant specimens. Its proposal was overwhelmingly defeated as well with 22 in support, 102 opposed and 13 abstentions.

Iris Ho, Humane Society International’s senior wildlife specialist: “Commercial trade in ivory is the biggest threat to the survival of African elephants. So it was incredibly important to see so many African nations show their unwavering opposition to this destructive trade at today’s vote. While it is unfortunate that a handful of southern African countries showed themselves to be out of touch with reality, supporting ivory trade despite an increase in poaching and alarming transnational ivory trafficking in certain areas, at the end of the day common sense prevailed. We are thrilled that the CITES Parties overwhelmingly rejected the reopening of the international commercial trade in ivory.”

Humane Society International strongly commends the 32 countries in the African Elephant Coalition for opposing the commercial ivory trade and all of the CITES parties that stood with them today.

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