Cambodian ibis critically endangered
THE Wildlife Conservation Society documented in April the poisoning in Cambodia of three critically endangered giant ibises for the wading bird’s meat.
More than 100 painted stork chicks were also poached in late March in Cambodia at the largest waterbird colony in South-East Asia.
“Suddenly, rural people have little to turn to but natural resources and we are already seeing a spike in poaching activities,” said Colin Poole, the group’s regional director for the Greater Mekong.
Several conservation groups are calling for governments to put measures in place to avoid future pandemics.
Among them is a global ban on commercial sale of wild birds and mammals destined for the dinner table.
Others say an international treaty, known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates the trade in endangered plants and animals, should be expanded to incorporate public health concerns.
They point out that some commonly traded species, such as horseshoe bats, often carry viruses but are currently not subject to trade restrictions under CITES.
“That is a big gap in the framework,” said John Scanlon, a former secretary-general of CITES who now works with the non-government organisation African Parks.
”We may find that there are certain animals that should be listed and not be traded or traded under strict conditions and certain markets that ought to be closed.”