Saiga Antelope Gain Zero-Export Annotation at CITES

In response to the decision by the CITES committee to maintain current Appendix II protections for saiga antelope and add an annotation for a zero-export quota for commercial trade purposes, WWF issued the following statement from Hamera Aisha, Manager for Wildlife, WWF-Pakistan:

"Saiga antelope populations have decreased so dramatically from disease and extreme weather in recent years that any international commercial trade puts recovery of the species at risk. The zero-export quota annotation is a helpful addition, but stronger action on trade may be needed if populations decline further. WWF will continue to work with range states, CITES and the Convention on Migratory Species to secure a future for saiga."