Date: 2011/12/21
WAZA signed a cooperation agreement with CITES yesterday in Geneva.
Geneva, 21 December 2011 - Yesterday, the Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Executive Director of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate access to expertise for the care of confiscated live animals, the provision of training and raising public awareness in the implementation of CITES, as part of the UN International Decade of Biodiversity.
Commenting on the agreement, the CITES Secretary-General, Mr Scanlon, said: "Our collaboration with the WAZA network will assist CITES Parties in meeting their obligations to care for confiscated animals and in the transport of live animals, which will be supported through enhanced training and capacity building opportunities."
"Illegal trade in animals is increasing and belongs, together with illegal drug traffic, to the most alarming illegal businesses. WAZA and its members are committed to assist CITES in implementing animal trade regulations and ensuring the conservation of species affected by trade", says Dr Gerald Dick, Executive Director of WAZA.
The main purpose of the collaboration is to facilitate the use of expertise available in the WAZA network to assist CITES Parties in implementing the Convention, and to support the activities of the CITES Secretariat for the benefit the conservation and sustainable use of species of wild fauna and flora,. Major fields of cooperation include: care and placement of confiscated live animals; gathering information about current wildlife trade issues; the transport of live animals; research and science, with a focus on Appendix-I species; communication and awareness; training; and capacity building.
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by trade, and CITES prohibits international trade therein (except for non-commercial purposes, such as scientific research).
As a recent incident in Cologne, Germany, showed, cooperation between zoos and conservation and Customs authorities is of utmost importance. The German Customs seized an illegal shipment of 570 exotic animals coming from Hong Kong SAR. The animals were concealed in suitcases and boxes and included two critically endangered reptiles, the Indochinese box turtle and the Burmese star tortoise, as well as sand boas, geckos, newts and invertebrates. Their care was entrusted to Cologne Zoo, a WAZA member. This example illustrates how WAZA members can assist CITES Parties with their expertise in and facilities for keeping confiscated wild animals.
Cooperation between CITES and WAZA will also help guarantee the safe transport of wild animals between countries, whether it be for commercial trade, breeding, research or conservation purposes.
CITES Secretary-General, Mr Scanlon and WAZA Executive Director, Mr Gerald Dick, signing the agreement.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is a global organisation that harmonises the principles, policies, practices and strategy of over 1,300 leading zoos and aquariums. WAZA is the unifying representative of the global zoo and aquarium community and works in partnership with IUCN, national governments and non-governmental organiations to ensure high standards of animal welfare and to achieve conservation in zoos and aquariums (ex situ) and in nature (in situ).