Qatar will join the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), according to an emiri decree issued Monday.
The agreement regulates international trade in rare plant and animal species in order to prevent their overexploitation, reported the official Qatari news agency (QNA).
Wildlife including oryx, dugongs, dolphins, falcons, monkeys and big cats come under the protection offered by CITES.
“This new development is simply wonderful,” an official told the agency.
Qatar’s decision to agree to CITES will help to prevent the import of animals, their caging in pet shops under miserable conditions, and the subsequent trade, he added.
“There have been instances of monkeys and chimpanzees being kept caged in very bad conditions in some of these shops.”
More than 2,500 animal species and over 30,000 plant species, for which trade (import, export and re-export) is regulated are listed in three appendices to CITES. Common groups of species requiring CITES permits include otters, cats (except domestic), monkeys, apes, hawks, eagles, owls, parrots (except budgerigars and cockatiels), crocodiles, alligators and caimans – Albawaba.com
