Nations on the horns of a dilemma at wildlife talks

Global wildlife talks opened yesterday, with debates on protection of sharks, a bid to allow limited rhino horn sales and a push to restrict the trade in eels.

- 

More than 180 nations are to join conservation experts in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand to discuss dozens of wildlife trade and protection proposals.

The meeting brings together signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).

The 50-year-old agreement is considered a key framework for protecting the world’s most endangered animals and plants, and regulates trade in 36 000 species.

The proposals on the table attempt to strengthen protections for several shark species, weaken restrictions on trade in giraffes and open the way to limited sales of rhino horn and elephant ivory.

Among the most contested proposals is a call to increase protections for eels, a popular food in parts of Asia.

Cites regulates trade by listing animals and plants under different appendices, with varying levels of trade restrictions.