"What is CITES?"
Pronounced "sy-tees," this is the acronym for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international treaty drawn up in 1973 in response to the decreasing numbers of many species. Its purpose is to protect wild animals and plants from over-exploitation and possible extinction as a result of international trade.
It has become easy to ship plants, animals, and their products (such as meat, fur, feathers, and hides) anywhere in the world. Growing numbers of zoos and pet stores want live animals, and there's a big market for ornamental plants. All of these businesses are highly profitable, and wildlife trade is a very important source of income for developing countries. The rarer the species, the higher the price--and the profit. And when the wildlife is hunted or collected faster than it can reproduce, it becomes extinct.
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