Whale Shark Conservation Approved In Manila Wildlife Conference
MANILA, PHILIPPINES- It was victory for conservation NGOs and for the delegates of the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Israel after the 12th Conference of the Parties on the Convention on Migratory Species (COP 12-CMS) recognized the need for the protection of the Rhincodun typus, commonly known as the Whale Shark.
Whale Sharks have been exploited for decades due to lack of stronger mechanisms in ensuring its protection and conservation. According to the data from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the whale shark species have faced an overall population reduction greater than or equal to 50 percent in the last 75 years.
The government of the Philippines led the drafting of the resolution, with Sri Lanka and Israel co-sponsoring. The 6-days conference has been a focal point for the recognition of other critical species needed to be recognized by country-members as “endangered migratory species”.
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