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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

28/11/22 12:40 PM IST

CITES COP19 downgrades status of southern white rhino

In News 
  • In a major hurdle to Africa’s rhino conservation efforts, CITES COP19 has recently accepted the proposal to downgrade the status of southern white rhinos from Appendix I to Appendix II.
Downgrade Status 
  • A proposal by Namibia and Botswana to transfer the southern white rhinos from Appendix I to Appendix II allows the trade of live animals for conservation purposes and hunting trophies only.
  • Animals in Appendix II may not necessarily be on the brink of extinction but the trade of such species is regulated to protect their existence.
  • This amendment is restricted to the downgrading of live animals only for in situ conservation purposes.
  • This decision does not resume the international trade in rhino horn, which was proposed by Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland).
  • However, the downgrading of the classification exposes these vulnerable species to the threats posed by smuggling channels in countries where there are rampant activities of illegal poaching.
  • It allows white rhinos to be relocated over long distances from one country to another.
Southern White Rhino 
  • The southern white rhino is one of the two subspecies of white rhinos, with the other being the northern white rhino.
  • It is one of the largest and heaviest animals in the world. It is among the most widespread and common subspecies of white rhinos.
  • It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. Its population has dwindled by 24 per cent from 2015 to 2021.
  • Currently, 98.5 per cent of the southern white rhino population is found in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda.
  • Namibia currently hosts some 1,237 southern white rhinos. As many as 57 white rhinos have been poached between the years 2013 and 2020 in this country.
Source- DTE 

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