Rachel Nuwer

All #pangolin species, African and Asian, now afforded highest international protection. #CITESCoP17

US at #CITESCoP17: "At times conservation requires measures that are precautionary in nature, rather than waiting for crisis." #pangolins

#Swaziland skeptical that giving #pangolins more protection will make difference for saving the species, but supports uplisting #CITESCoP17

#Gabon at #CITESCoP17: "Poachers who take #ivory are increasingly getting caught with #pangolin scales as well."

#Nigeria, on poss of #pangolin commercial breeding: "Any legal trade will provide a mechanism by which illegal products can be laundered."

At #CITESCoP17, Cote d'Ivoire pleads for African #pangolins: "When Asian species declines, the traffickers came for our African species."

Asian #pangolins uplisted to highest protection! In vote, 114 YES to 1 NO. #CITESCoP17 Applause broke out.

At #CITESCoP17, #Indonesia blocks protection of pangolin, possibly because of interest in commercial breeding of species. Now voting.

European Union on increased #pangolin protection: "They clearly meet the biological criteria for inclusion in Appendix I." #CITESCoP17

So far #Indonesia alone in nonsensical opposition to #pangolin protection. #Bolivia, #Vietnam, #Israel, #Peru, #Laos, #Brazil etc support

#Indonesia at #CITESCoP17 says giving #pangolins higher protection is pointless: "Appendix I will not much benefit #pangolins survival."

#Vietnam at #CITESCoP17: "All of the worlds' zoos have concluded that commercial breeding of #pangolins for their scales is not feasible."

Chair at #CITESCoP17 "overwhelmed" by requests of countries to speak on behalf of #pangolins

At #CITESCoP17, India speaks for Indian #pangolins: "No disagreement among experts about the vulnerability and decline of the population."

Forensics expert Sam Wasser @UW: "synthetic #RhinoHorn will add confusion, cost and likelihood of poachers capitalizing." #CITESCoP17