Samarkand hits the headlines as wildlife trade talks tighten, aiming to curb the decline of exotic animals—an ancient city in Uzbekistan.
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.