CITES Recommends India Pause Animal Imports
Context:
A committee of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has recommended that India's wildlife authorities pause the issue of permits for importing endangered animals
This recommendation is part of a report following a CITES-designated verification mission to the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) in Jamnagar, Gujarat
About the CITES Treaty
CITES is a global treaty with 185 signatories
It regulates the cross-border movement of protected animal and plant species
India became a party to CITES in 1976.
The third meeting of the CoP was hosted by India in 1981 at New Delhi.
Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties, it does not take the place of national laws.
No international shipment of endangered species is permitted without valid export and import permits from the designated CITES authorities of the two countries involved.
Appendices I, II and III to the Convention are lists of species afforded different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation.
Appendix I - most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants
They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial.
Appendix II - not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled.
Appendix III - list of species included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade
Trade is s allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates
Key Findings & Recommendations of the Mission
The CITES mission could not find evidence that the Jamnagar facility imported animals for commercial purposes
However, the report noted that several imports still raise questions regarding the origin of the specimens and the exercise of due diligence by India
The report cautioned against the illegal harvest of wild animals that are later declared as captive bred
The report flagged imports of captive bred animals from countries not known for such breeding programs
For example, chimpanzees from Iraq, cheetahs from Syria and 363 animals from Guyana under wild (Source Code W)
The mission recommended that India reviews as a matter of urgency its import procedures and implements stronger due diligence