Endangered species meeting in Bangkok

Representatives from 178 countries gathered in Bangkok to discuss globally endangered species. For example, the elephant, polar bear and rhino are high on the agenda.

The meeting takes place in the context of the CITES treaty from 1973. Eighty countries signed the treaty to reduce trade in endangered plant and animal species in order to prevent their extinction. About 35.000 plant and animal species are protected by the treaty.

Ivory

Due to the high demand for ivory, more and more elephants are being killed by poachers. According to animal rights activists, elephants are still being killed en masse in Africa and their tusks are exported to Asia. Thailand is an important destination because it can be mixed with legal Thai ivory. The Thai government is now under pressure to amend the law.

Polar bear

The United States wants to ban the trade in polar bear skins and other hunting trophies. Canada and Russia oppose it. In Canada, hundreds of polar bears are shot by hunters every year.

Rhino

The countries do not agree on the approach to the trade in rhino horns. That trade is prohibited, but according to some researchers, legalizing it could help to prevent poaching.

Commercial interest

The countries are also scrutinizing their own voting behaviour. The vote is now secret, but critics say that leads to countries putting commercial interests before animal welfare. That is why a proposal is being made to vote in public from now on.

The CITES meeting in Bangkok lasts until March 14.