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Lucky 31: our #numberoftheweek

Klaus EsterlußNovember 12, 2014

31 species, including some types of shark, ray and sawfish, were granted a new protection status at the UN conference on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) last weekend.

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Sägefisch Oceanworld Sydney Archiv 2011
Image: AFP/Getty Images/T. Blackwood

The announcement made in the final plenary session of the CMS conference has the potential to make conservationists happy. Among the new species on the list for extra-protection are quite a large number of sea creatures. As many as 21 species of shark, ray and sawfish were added.

After six days of intense talks by leading conservationists, the participating countries have assured that they will provide strict protection to the reef manta, nine devil rays, and five sawfish. They also committed to work internationally on the protection of all three species of thresher sharks, two types of hammerheads and the silky sharks.

The 11th conference concluded in Quito, Ecuador. The conservationists also agreed to boost protection for polar bears, gazelles and other mammals or bird species. For example, the Saker Falcon, a bird of prey that is found between Eastern Europe and Western China already listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List because of falconry trade, habitat-loss and poisoning, was also named by the CMS.

Taken together, 31 different species have been taken into account - that is our #numberoftheweek.