Its International Jaguar Day
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that the international trade in wildlife does not threaten wild populations of plants and animals.
According to CITES – “Big cats are affected by illegal international trade and have been targeted over the last several decades for their furs, teeth, bones and other body parts, as well as for live animal trade. Data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) indicates that the global population of tigers in the wild is around 3,000 individuals with a similar figure for snow leopards. The population of wild cheetahs is estimated at approximately 6,500. The population trend for all big cat species focused on at the Task Force meeting is considered to be decreasing.”
CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero said: “Over the past century we have been losing big cats, one of the planet’s most majestic predators, at an alarming rate. Today, big cat populations are continuing to diminish, due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, wildlife crime and the illegal trade. In recent years, there has been progress in conservation efforts, coexistence strategies, and enforcement measures to tackle illegal trade in big cats, but more needs to be done. The CITES Big Cats Task Force meeting has provided an opportunity for Parties, IGOs, NGOs and experts to come together to share knowledge and expertise on big cats. The outcomes of this meeting provide inputs to Parties to strengthen responses to illegal trade in big cats.”
Source: CITES news report
