Species Protection: Elephants, Jaguars and Sharks Benefit

In light of the rapid decline of many animals worldwide, representatives from more than 100 countries have called for particularly strong protection of ten species.

According to UN estimates, one million animal and plant species will become extinct in the coming decades. Animal welfare advocates say that humans pose a major threat to these species — through hunting and the destruction of habitats.

Asian elephants, jaguars, one shark species and several bird species are to be added to the highest protection category of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), as a CMS spokesperson announced.

This decision must still be formally approved by the plenary session at the close of the 13th UN Conference on this convention on Saturday in the Indian city of Gandhinagar. Observers do not expect the outcome to change, however. Member countries would then be required to prohibit the killing of these animals. Several additional species are to be added to the second-highest list. The countries concerned would then need to cooperate more closely on their protection.

A positive signal for species protection

For the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), this is a good result, as their delegation leader at the conference, Matt Collis, stated: «Borders do not exist for animals, which is why it is all the more important that their protection does not stop at the border either.Borders do not exist for animals, which is why it is all the more important that their protection does not stop at the border either.»

According to IFAW, the greatest threats to the Asian elephant are habitat destruction and fragmentation, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Jaguars have lost around 40 percent of their habitat over the past 100 years, said wildlife conservation expert Ralf Sonntag of IFAW. And oceanic whitetip sharks have become one of the most endangered shark species because they were heavily fished for decades. Their fins are a popular soup ingredient, particularly in parts of Asia.

Joyce Msuya, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said: “In the face of the unprecedented crisis of species loss, 2020 is an important year to step up action to protect species, safeguard ecosystems, and make meaningful progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.“

Around 130 states are represented at the convention, including Switzerland, almost all states of Europe and South America, and most states of Africa – notably absent are the USA, China, and Russia.