Sharks, songbirds and species depleted by pet trade given extra protections

Cites treaty, adopted in 1963, protects more than 500 species, many exploited by unsustainable or illegal trade

An international wildlife conference has moved to enact some of the most significant protections for sharks, songbirds and scores of turtles, lizards and frogs.

The meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) ended on Friday in Panama. Along with protections for more than 500 species, delegates at the UN wildlife conference rejected a proposal to reopen the ivory trade. An ivory ban was enacted in 1989.