AC26/PC20 Doc. 7 Annex 5 (English only / únicamente en inglés / seulement en anglais) EVALUATION OF THE REVIEW OF SIGNIFICANT TRADE: CASE STUDIES* 1. Hippopotamus amphibius Hippopotamus amphibius (common hippopotamus or hippo) is a large semi-aquatic African mammal, traded largely for its teeth, used as ivory, but also for its skin and as trophies. It was included in Appendix II in 1995. Range and overall status Range States: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan (and South Sudan), Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The current status of H. amphibius according to the IUCN Red List is Vulnerable. The species was last assessed in 2008, having also been identified as Vulnerable in the assessment carried out in 2006. The total estimated population is thought to be somewhere between 125,000 and 148,000, with the largest proportion in Eastern and Southern African countries (Lewison and Oliver, 2008). The species was classified as Lower Risk/least concern in 1996. Review of Significant Trade Hippopotamus amphibius has been selected twice for the Review of Significant Trade, in 1998 and in 2008. In the first Review, range States were categorised (according to Decision 10.79) as d iii) or d ii) at AC 15 (1999). Those classified as d iii) were those for which preliminary review indicated that the level of trade was evidently not a problem. Range States classified as d ii) were those for which preliminary review had found insufficient information on which to base a judgement on the impact of trade. Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe were classified as d ii) and all other range States as d iii). Recommendations were transmitted to range States considered to be d ii) in 2000 in which they were asked to respond providing; “the CITES Secretariat with detailed information on management measures in place to monitor wild populations of the species and implement the requirements of Article IV.2 of the Convention when authorizing exports.” Responses were considered at AC16 in 2000, by which time only Botswana had replied, and again at AC17 (2001). At AC17 Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe were considered to have provided satisfactory responses and were removed from the Review. The implementation of the review was discussed by the Standing Committee at SC45 in 2001. South Africa and the United Republic of Tanzania provided additional information and were removed from the process. The Standing Committee then recommended that no imports of specimens of H. amphibius should be accepted for those range State that had not responded to requests for information, namely Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Malawi, until the actions recommended had been implemented. The Hippo was again selected for inclusion in the review at AC 2008 with all range States to be contacted except DRC and Rwanda. Range State responses were considered at AC24 (2009) with a number being removed from the process at that time. With the exception of South Africa, the major exporters of teeth or tusks were removed from the process based on information provided to the Secretariat. The Animals Committee provisionally selected the following countries as of Possible Concern: Cameroon, Mali, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland (AC25, Doc 9.4, 2011)1. * The geographical designations employed in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the CITES Secretariat or the United Nations Environment Programme concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The responsibility for the contents of the document rests exclusively with its author. 1 CITES documents including summary records, working group reports and information documents have been cited with the meeting number and document number followed by the date. Most can be found on the CITES website. They are not included in the reference list. AC26/PC20 Doc. 7, Annex 5 – p. 1 After review and consideration of additional information provided by range States at AC25, all countries were removed from the Review except Cameroon and Mozambique, both classified as Possible Concern. Recommendations were formulated for these countries to provide information on the basis of non-detriment findings and management. Range States subject to Recommendations Botswana Review Recommendations In the first Review Botswana was classified in category d ii) and recommendations were made asking the country to provide information. The country responded, indicating that no commercial trade was allowed, and was therefore removed from the Review. Botswana was regarded as Least Concern in the second Review. Status, trade and management The population in the mid-2000s was estimated at between 2000-4000 and believed to be decreasing, though not of conservation concern (Lewison and Oliver, 2008). The species is protected under the Wildlife Conservation Policy and no commercial trade is allowed. Killing of problem animals was reported in 2000 as rare (correspondence from the Director of Wildlife and National Parks to CITES Secretariat, June 2000, documented in AC16, 7.1, 2001). Trade had not resumed by the second Review. Impacts of the Review The Review appears to have had negligible impact on the status or management of hippos in Botswana. Cameroon Review Recommendations Not subject to recommendations in the first Review. In 2011 Cameroon was classified as Possible Concern and asked to provide information within 90 days for the following: a) The Management Authority should clarify what legal protection is afforded to this species in Cameroon and provide an explanation for the perceived discrepancies between reported Customs data (imports) and CITES data (exports) referred to in AC25 Doc 9.4; b) Provide available information to the Secretariat on the distribution, abundance and conservation status and any current management measures in place for H. amphibius in Cameroon; and c) Provide justification for, and details of, the scientific basis by which it has been established that the quantities of H. amphibius exported were not detrimental to the survival of the species and in compliance with Article IV, paragraphs 2 (a) and 3. Status, trade and management The species is currently thought to be widespread but at low density in Cameroon, occurring in Benoue national Park and River, Faro National Park, Kalamaloue National Park, Panmgar-Djerem National Park, Lake Lagdo and Lake Maga (Lewison and Oliver, 2008). The population is estimated at between 500-1500 individuals but the population trend is unknown, although concern for the conservation of this species has been noted with the main threat considered to be human-hippo conflict as a result of crop raiding (Lewison and Oliver, 2008). Levels of trade in hippo products have been relatively low from Cameroon with the primary traded products being teeth (recorded as whole) and trophies. There are some discrepancies in the reports received from importers and exporters, with importers generally reporting more trade in teeth and Cameroon reporting greater numbers of trophies. Part of this discrepancy may be because Cameroon generally reports on permits issued rather than actual trade. There have been some other hippo products traded from Cameroon, although only at very low numbers. Over the last 20 years this has included (according to importer only): feet (20), ivory pieces (30), tails (6) and skulls (5) along with some other products in even smaller quantities. Export of trophies from Cameroon AC26/PC20 Doc. 7, Annex 5 – p. 2 Export of teeth/tusks from Cameroon (kg) From 2006 hippos were “fully protected” by law (under Arrete 0648/MINFOF of 18/12/2006) within Cameroon, being listed as a class A species (i.e. a species which is rare or threatened with extinction). It is forbidden to kill hippos except where special authorization has been obtained for persons wishing to capture or keep these species for management purposes within the framework of scientific research or to protect people and their property. The species occurs in five national parks (Lewison and Oliver, 2008). The Cameroonian Management Authority have specified that levels of hunting for sport are less than 5 specimens per year (Cameroonian Management Authority in litt. to TRAFFIC, 2011). It would appear that trade has continued in both trophies and teeth being reported in trade. The level of trade is difficult to determine as importer and exporter reports varying significantly. Impacts of the Review Because the current review is on-going it is not yet possible to assess its impacts. However, the Management Authority of Cameroon has stated that terms of reference for a study on the status of H. amphibius have already been drafted but that that funding is not currently available (Management Authority of Cameroon in litt. to TRAFFIC, August 2011). Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Review Recommendations In the first Review the Democratic Republic of the Congo was classified in category d ii) and recommendations were made asking the country to provide information. No response was received and in 2001 the Standing Committee recommended to Parties not to accept imports of specimens of H. amphibius from the country until the Management Authority provided adequate information regarding management measures in-place and AC26/PC20 Doc. 7, Annex 5 – p. 3 implementation of Article IV of the Convention. In 2008, at SC57, the Standing Committee withdrew this recommendation on the basis that the Hippo had become a fully protected species in DRC in 2006. Status, trade and management In 2006, the species was classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, having previously been of Lower Risk/least concern.