The International Whaling Commission added the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary to that of the Indian Ocean in an attempt to protect great and minke whales. But perhaps the most powerful agreement is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.-See box. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is a powerful weapon in the fight against illicit trafficking in endangered species. Leopard pelts, elephant ivory, tiger bones, rhino horns, and turtles are among currently banned commodities. The agreement extends to include endangered timber and fish stocks.
Man still has much to learn about the relationships of creatures, one to another.
Some 200 of the lake's 300 native fish species went into oblivion. Although recent evidence blames soil erosion for upsetting the balance of species, the governments of the three countries that border the lake have now established an organization to determine which species of fish can be introduced without endangering the native ones. Human Intervention One area that reports success is the captive breeding program that many zoos run. The zoo on the tiny British island of Jersey breeds rare animals with a view to their subsequent reintroduction into the wild. In 1975, only 100 St. Lucian parrots remained in their Caribbean home.