Namibia has achieved a less strict protection status for its white rhinos. Following successful conservation efforts, the southwestern African country will be allowed to sell livestock under certain conditions.
Parties to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) meet in Panama to protect nearly 600 endangered wild species from overtrade. At the beginning of the second and last week of the conference, there were two rhino proposals on the agenda. Commission decisions must be approved at the plenary session at the end of the conference.
The Esvatini Kingdom, with a population of 1.1 million, had already failed at the two previous conferences with its proposal to loosen the horn trade. There are only 98 rhinos in Eswatini. This trade has been banned worldwide since 1977. Last week’s conference also endorsed a ban on the ivory trade made from elephant tusks.
A modified version of Namibia’s application allowing limited trade in its rhinos has been adopted. In Africa it will be possible to sell live animals for conservation purposes only. With the proposal of the European Union (EU), the export of hunting trophies was terminated.
(SDA)