First step to ban the sale of elephants to zoos | Society



The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) This Sunday, he took an important step towards the prohibition of selling wild elephants to zoos, a "historic victory" greeted by environmentalists. A large majority of countries participating in the UN conference, which has been held in Geneva since Saturday, voted to strictly limit the sales of African wild elephants to those destined to keep animals in their natural environment.

The proposal was approved during the first vote in the commission, 46 votes in favor, 18 against and 19 abstentions. It must be approved in plenary session on the 28th, during the closing meeting of the conference. According to the text, capture for captive maintenance structures such as zoos or amusement parks is prohibited, a practice considered "cruel" by defenders of the animal cause.

"This decision will save a significant number of elephants torn from their families in the wild and forced to spend their lives locked in zoos in mediocre conditions," said Iris Ho, of the Humane Society International (HSI) animal protection group in Washington , cited in a statement.

The sale of elephants from western, central and eastern Africa, which have long been among protected species, was already prohibited, unlike those in southern Africa, less threatened. Zimbabwe captured and sold more than 100 elephant babies to Chinese zoos since 2012, according to HSI.

"This preliminary decision strongly affirms that elephants do not belong to the entertainment industry," Cassandra Koenen, head of wildlife at the World Society for Animal Protection (WSPA), said in another statement. "It is a considerable step in the right direction."

Thousands of delegates from more than 180 countries discuss in Geneva 56 proposals to modify the degree of protection accorded to wild animals and plants.

Created over 40 years ago, CITES sets the rules of international trade for more than 35,000 wild species. It has a mechanism that allows it to impose sanctions on countries that do not respect the rules. This meeting takes place after the publication of a UN report in May announcing that one million species are in danger of extinction.

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