Rhino Horn Trade, Shark Protection Top Agenda at Global Wildlife Talks

BANGKOK, Nov 24: Representatives from more than 180 countries will gather in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday as global wildlife talks open with debates on shark protection, proposed changes to rhino horn trade rules, and new restrictions on eel trading.

The meeting brings together signatories of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a 50-year-old international agreement that regulates trade in over 36,000 threatened species. Delegates will review dozens of proposals aimed at either strengthening or loosening protections.

Key issues on the agenda include expanded protections for several shark species, reduced trade restrictions for giraffes, and a controversial plan to allow limited sales of elephant ivory and rhino horn. Another major debate centers on increasing protections for eel species—especially because juvenile eels are nearly impossible to distinguish, raising concerns that critically endangered European eels are being misidentified and traded illegally.

Japan is strongly opposing the proposal to list additional eel species under Appendix II, arguing it would damage CITES’ credibility, inflate prices, and fuel smuggling.

Another contentious topic is the bid by some governments to sell stockpiled rhino horn and elephant ivory to help finance conservation. Animal welfare groups warn that reopening legal trade could enable illegal products to be laundered into markets. “Past attempts had disastrous consequences,” said Matt Collis of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Namibia, which is advocating for the rhino horn proposal, argues that such sales are needed to support conservation and protect shrinking habitats. A similar proposal was rejected during the 2022 CITES meeting.

The conference will also consider stronger protections for seven shark species, including an Appendix I listing—and total trade ban—for the critically endangered oceanic whitetip shark. While this measure is expected to pass, other proposals involving whale sharks and gulper sharks may face closer debate.

The CITES conference in Samarkand will run until December 5.