The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, took action to reduce global trade in endangered sharks and rays this week at its triennial Wildlife Conference in Bangkok, adding manta rays and five species of shark to its list of animals protected under the treaty. Sharks and manta rays are some of the most majestic animals in the ocean, but some gourmands have long seen them as swimming carriers for fins and gills used in traditional Chinese dishes. An estimated 100 million sharks are killed every year to sate human appetites for pricy shark's fin soup, which has led to a 97 percent drop in the population over two centuries. Manta rays are...
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