Five species the focus of upcoming CITES meeting

SA is readying itself to host a significant wildlife conference next month, which will determine the fate of the country's endangered rhino, writes Legalbrief. Five animal species will be the focus of the Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting due to take place in Johannesburg at the end of September. According to a BDlive report, elephants, rhinos, tigers, sharks and pangolins will be discussed at the meeting, where delegates will vote on 62 proposals to regulate the trade in specific species and agenda items aimed at boosting the fight against wildlife crime. In SA, trade in rhino horn is still a fraught issue, with the Supreme Court of Appeal in May dismissing a government bid to uphold a seven-year ban on the domestic trade in rhino horn. The decision was described as a setback to government efforts to keep a lid on the domestic trade in rhino horn, which was imposed in 2009. However, both buyers and sellers of rhino horn in SA still need to apply for a permit, so that the government can keep tabs on the commodity. SA is also a proponent of the global ban on the trade of pangolin, which is the ‘most heavily traded mammal’, according to the report. It says the convention will also propose regulation of global trade for mobula rays, silky sharks and thresher sharks, which are vulnerable to overfishing.