Highlights and images for 28 November 2025

From whale sharks and manta rays to jaguars and great apes, charismatic species were at the forefront of discussions on the fifth day of the twentieth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Committee I dove boldly into a sea of proposals to amend the appendices for marine species. Consensus around the need to strengthen protections for several of these marine species was significant, with one delegate remarking that “an ocean without sharks is an ocean losing its lifeforce.”

Committee I agreed, by consensus, to list school sharks (Galeorhinus galeus) and smoothhounds (Mustelus spp.) in Appendix II and to uplist whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and manta and devil rays (Mobulidae spp.) to Appendix I. There was less consensus around the listing of gulper sharks (Centrophoridae spp.) in Appendix II and proposals for zero-annual export quota annotations for Appendix II giant guitarfishes (Glaucostegus spp.) and wedgefishes (Rhinidae spp.), which passed through secret ballot votes.

On land, Committee II spent the day discussing big cats of various stripes, as well as illegal trade and wildlife crime enforcement. Notably:   

• Ethiopia urged for stronger enforcement to combat illegal trade in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus); 
• Parties agreed to continue work to address illegal trade in leopard parts and derivatives;
• The Committee struck a working group to discuss the potential re-establishment of a CITES Great Ape Enforcement Task Force; and
• Kazakhstan introduced their document, prepared with the Russian Federation, on saiga antelopes (Saiga spp.)  

Committee II also took a dip into the ocean when discussing efforts to conserve totoabas (Totoaba macdonaldi).

Discussions continued throughout the day in working and drafting groups on Boswellia, brazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata), sustainable financing for African elephant conservation, and the Convention's finances and budget. Colourful shark plushies in hand, delegates also enjoyed several side events, including on: 

• Whale sharks and friends; 
• Chinese Pangolin conservation; 
• Trade in frogs’ legs; and 
• Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) 2.0.