NGO slams results of CITES CoP 16

BANGKOK, March 15 (TNA) - An international non-governmental organisations (NGO) slams results of the 16th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP 16), which ended in Bangkok on Thursday, claiming that it failed to resolve the problem of illegal transnational trade of wildlife. Steve Galster, Executive Director of the FREELAND Foundation for a world free of wildlife trafficking and human slavery, told journalists on Friday that he was disappointed with the failure of the CITES CoP 16 to declare a global stop of hunting and transnational trafficking of wildlife, especially endangered elephant, rhino and tiger, but focusing only on compromise talks, resulting in no clear resolution by any participating country on a stop of hunting and transnational trafficking of wildlife. Galster said, however, he was pleased that the CITES CoP 16, held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in the Thai capital from March 3-14, discussed measures on protecting and taking care of endangered wild elephant and rhino from countries of their origins, transits and destinations. The FREELAND executive director suggested that each country strictly enforce laws to efficiently and decisively prevent and combat illegal trade of wildlife carcasses. The FREELAND executive director also praised Thailand’s declared policy on ending ivory trade, recommending, nonetheless, that the country clearly announce publicly whether the national determination covers ivory trade of domestic elephant. (TNA)