UN Adds 40 Species to Protection Lists

0:00It's March 30th, I'm Cory with the Story. This is Toronto News Today, driven by AI. After a week of talks in Brazil, nations at the 15th meeting of the UN's Convention on Migratory Species added 40 new animals to protection, lists. This 1979 treaty covers species that cross borders, like cheetahs, giant otters, hammerhead sharks, and snowy owls. These additions go into two appendices. One calls for strict bans on catching endangered ones, like those hammerhead sharks hit hard by fishing. The other pushes countries the team up on plans, such as for snowy owls that breed of north in Canada's Arctic, but wander far south. Leaders are pumped, saying clear science drove the winds. Amy Franco, the convention's top official, called it proof nations can move fast. Experts note these travelers face climate shifts and prey loss, plus buy catch in nets, so joint action is key. Canada hasn't signed on yet, but the snowy owls nod highlights Arctic ties.

1:02Now the list's top 1200 species total, with over 130 countries involved. Critics point out it's mostly voluntary with funding gaps, and big players like the U.S., China, and Japan sit it out. Still, hosting near Brazil's wetlands boosted South American buys-in for local migrants like giant otters. As we layer this with other global packs, it spotlights why border crossers need backup to thrive. More implementation ahead, with the next big meet-up in 2029 back in Germany.