Document Type

Article

Disciplines

International Law

Abstract

This Comment will explore the adequacy of international legal protection of the endangered chimpanzee and gorilla. Following an introduction to the sociobiological parallels between humans and apes, Part I analyzes the need for protection of the gorilla and chimpanzee. Part II explains the enforcement mechanisms used by the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora2 ("CITES") to regulate wildlife trade. The discussion will address CITES' administrative structure, categorization by a three-tiered appendix system established to control species-specific trade levels on the basis of an animal's danger of extinction, and permit requiremetits and enforcement provisions. The Endangered Species Act and subsequently enacted Lacey Act also will be analyzed as examples of national-level efforts to implement the common purpose of regulating wildlife trade. Part III presents the implementation difficulties as a result of smuggling and legal circumvention of CITES, while Part IV proposes possible solutions that will afford greater realization of the Convention's goals. Finally, this paper concludes by acknowledging that CITES has the potential to answer the threat of extinction, noting the need to expand global communication and response to habitat destruction.

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