What's happened
The two-week CITES conference in Samarkand is considering stricter controls or bans on trade of species like Galapagos iguanas, Latin American tarantulas, and African turtles. The focus is on curbing illegal online wildlife sales driven by rising demand and social media influence.
What's behind the headline?
The conference highlights a shift in wildlife trafficking from traditional animal parts to live animals, driven by online marketplaces and social media influence. This digital shift makes enforcement more challenging, as permits are often issued without verifying animal origins, enabling traffickers to launder illegal wildlife. The proposals for bans on species like Galapagos iguanas and sloths reflect urgent efforts to prevent further population declines. The U.S. support for some proposals indicates international concern, but opposition to others like rattlesnakes reveals complexities in enforcement and trade regulation. The rise in seizures in Latin America underscores the growing scale of illegal trade, which now heavily feeds into global pet markets, especially in Europe and Asia. This situation demands stronger international cooperation and stricter permit verification to prevent laundering and protect endangered species from extinction.
What the papers say
The Independent reports on the ongoing CITES conference, emphasizing proposals for stricter controls on species like iguanas and sloths, and the rise of online wildlife trade. AP News summarizes the proposals to ban trade of several species, highlighting the international scope. Both sources agree on the increasing role of online platforms and social media influencers in driving illegal wildlife sales, with The Independent providing detailed insights into regional impacts and specific species proposals, while AP News offers a broader overview of the conference's agenda and challenges in enforcement.
How we got here
The CITES conference in Samarkand is addressing the rise in illegal wildlife trade, especially online. Historically, trade involved animal parts like ivory and tiger bones, but now live animals for pets are increasingly trafficked. Latin America, with rising seizures, is a key region, and proposals target species threatened by illegal trade and environmental pressures.
Go deeper
Common question
-
What’s Happening at the CITES Wildlife Trade Conference?
The ongoing CITES conference in Samarkand is drawing global attention as countries debate tighter controls on wildlife trade. With rising concerns over illegal sales, especially online, many are asking what species are at risk, how social media influences these trades, and what new restrictions might be coming. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about this critical event and its impact on wildlife conservation.
More on these topics
-
The Galápagos Islands, part of the Republic of Ecuador, are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere.
-
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
-
Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
-
The Wildlife Conservation Society is a non-governmental organization headquartered at the Bronx Zoo in New York City, that aims to conserve the world's largest wild places in 14 priority regions.
-
Samarkand, also known as Samarqand, is a city in southeastern Uzbekistan and among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia.