Forgotten Wonders Rediscovered: CITES Safeguards Unique Species Across the Globe

In the past few decades, the little-known global wildlife trade regulator CITES has played a crucial role in safeguarding some of the world's most endangered and unique species. One such example is the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, a massive butterfly found in just a small section of Papua New Guinea's coastal rainforest. By the 1980s, this 10-inch winged wonder had been driven to the edge of extinction due to habitat loss and illegal trade, with individual specimens fetching up to $10,000. However, CITES stepped in to ban all international commercial trade in 1987, leading to a gradual recovery.

Similarly, the hyacinth macaw, the world's largest flying parrot, faced near-extinction in the 1980s due to habitat loss and heavy trapping for the exotic pet trade. CITES listings and strengthened enforcement by Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay have since allowed the macaw's population to more than double, with over 6,500 birds now in the wild.

The humphead wrasse, a massive coral reef fish, has also seen its numbers rise in recent years after being listed as endangered by CITES in 2004. While habitat loss and overfishing had decimated its populations, the CITES trade controls have helped curb the decline, though the species remains endangered.

Through quiet yet effective action, CITES has played a vital role in reviving these and other forgotten wonders of the natural world over the past decades.