Animal Defenders International (ADI)
October 2016
ADI was on the ground ensuring the voice of millions of animals was heard and millions of animals have been saved.
The battle goes on to secure protection for lions and elephants, rest assured, we will not give up until these animals are safe from the hunters and other human threats.
DI spent two intense weeks pushing for protection for animals at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) in Johannesburg. The CITES treaty has to be as much about ensuring the survival of species as well as about regulating trade, and that is the battleground.
Delegates from 183 countries voted on proposals to either restrict or allow further trade in animals. The ADI team met with delegates and provided detailed briefings on various issues. Out of more than 60 proposals, the votes on 73% had the outcome we supported, but of course we wanted more.
Big wins included securing protection for the Barbary macaque, to prevent its population being devastated by pet traders; blocking the attempts by Namibia and Zimbabwe to reopen ivory trading, and Swaziland's attempt to trade in rhino horn. But we were bitterly disappointed that the attempt to list declining wild lion populations on Appendix I (the highest level of protection), was blocked despite the desperate situation with only 20,000 lions left in the wild.
Some key results include:
THE GOOD NEWS:
THE BAD NEWS:
Thanks to your support ADI was on the ground ensuring the voice of millions of animals was heard and millions of animals have been saved. The battle goes on to secure protection for lions and elephants, rest assured, we will not give up until these animals are safe from the hunters and other human threats.
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