Stop the capture of wild elephants for later use in zoos and circuses: they can only be captured to be included in conservation programs in Africa. The CITES proposal, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, has been accepted by the acceding countries.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Stop the capture of African wild elephants for later use in zoos and circuses: they can only be captured to be included in conservation programs in Africa. The proposal of the Cites, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, has been accepted by the acceding countries.
After a heated debate, finally yesterday, Tuesday 27 August, an agreement was reached that protects wild animals. The text in which CITES establishes the stop to the capture of elephants from different countries of the African continent, was approved after the revision of the European Union.
They were firmly opposed Zimbabwe and Botswana, among the main suppliers of wild African elephants to zoos and circuses, who tried in vain to block the vote.
But with 87 votes in favor, 29 against and 25 abstentions, the amended text secured a two-thirds majority.
"This is an important decision for African elephants," said Audrey Delsink, wildlife director of the Africa Division of Humane Society International (HSI).
The decision, let us remember, concerns only the African elephants, the Asian ones already enjoy greater protection against international trade. Unfortunately, however, it is half-heartedly good news because a "loophole" has been left open in the text modified by the European Union. In fact, the text states that elephants will remain in their "natural habitat in Africa, except in exceptional circumstances where it is believed that a relocation to ex situ locations will provide demonstrable conservation benefits for African elephants".
The EU amendment also made it clear that African elephants caught in the wild and already in zoos could be relocated to other facilities outside Africa. While elephants in West, Central and East Africa had already been banned from trade, there has been a certain permissiveness to this day in the southern part.
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Dominella Trunfio
