Wildlife wins and warnings: what this year’s decisions mean for animals

This covers over 80 species-including reptiles, primates, songbirds and sloths.

Historically, discussions have primarily focused on animals traded for their parts and derivatives, like ivory or horns. This conference solidifies a concerning growing trend for the demand in live wild animals traded as pets, especially reptiles and birds, that jeopardises the future survival of wild populations.

Two species of sloths-Linnaeus' and Hoffmann's-were added to Appendix II. Although globally two-toed sloths are currently considered as 'least concern', populations in some countries are threatened and they're on a concerning downward trajectory. These sloths are increasingly being taken from their natural habitats, and sold-either into the exotic pet trade, or displayed in roadside "sloth encounter" attractions, particularly in the United States.

For songbirds, the great-billed seed-finch was moved from Appendix II to Appendix I and other seed-finches are included on Appendix II. These birds are celebrated for their beautiful songs and traded for traditional singing competitions, but the growing popularity of such practices has led to rapid decline in populations.

A number of reptiles were also granted Appendix I level protections, including the Hispaniolan giant galliwasp, Bale Mountains adder and Ethiopian mountain adder, home's hinged tortoise and the Galápagos marine and land iguana.

Galápagos iguanas-found nowhere else on earth other than isolated islands that form the Galapagos archipelago in Ecuador-have become highly sought-after pets. Despite Ecuador's strict laws banning the export of iguanas for commercial purposes, they continue to be found for sale in online marketplaces, often falsely declared as captive bred.

Also granted stronger protections were the Australian Mount Elliot leaf-tailed gecko and ringed thin-tailed gecko that were listed on Appendix II.

While many species gained protections, this conference also underscored how deeply wildlife trafficking has infiltrated the global pet market.

Not every proposal passed. Several South American tarantula species failed to secure Appendix II listings, leaving them vulnerable to rapidly growing international trade.

Still, this CITES delivered far more wins than losses.