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A key motion under consideration at the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress would create guidelines for managing the wildlife pet trade, and that’s key because across the world, millions of live animals - mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians - are taken from the wild every year. The illegal and unsustainable wildlife pet trade depends on the appeal of live animals whose capture leaves forests and grasslands silent, stripped of the pollinators, seed dispersers and predators that keep ecosystems functioning.

An African nation has enacted a policy to curb illegal fishing and ensure the sustainability of the fishing industry for years to come. As New Era Live reported, Namibia has reduced its bycatch limit from 5% to 2% in an effort to protect marine life. The government has also opted to increase penalties to deter violators. Bycatch limits are the maximum amounts of species that can be caught unintentionally during fishing operations. These limits are often designed to minimize the impact of fishing on vulnerable populations and ecosystems.

It's clear why the illegal wildlife trade exists. Where there's consumer demand for products from endangered species, there are bound to be networks seeking to profit from that demand. But what about the motivations of individual offenders? TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade NGO, decided to simply ask them. The researchers interviewed 73 people in South African correctional centers, who had been convicted of crimes related to rhinos, abalone, or cycads (ancient palm-like plants that have been called "the world's most endangered plants").