Campaigners who had worked for decades to get these species listed in Appendix II of Cites said it was a landmark day.

BBC: Landmark shark ban upheld at conservation meeting

Appendix II lists species which are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but which may become so unless trade is closely controlled.

BBC: Cites meeting votes to protect Oceanic whitetip shark

The Nile crocodile was demoted to Appendix II in 1981, a measure that allowed farmed populations to meet the demand for skins.

ECONOMIST: Protecting endangered species less could help save them

On average the 46 animal species moved from Appendix II to Appendix I between 1980 and 2003 were traded at 135% above normal volumes in the year before a ban (see chart).

ECONOMIST: Protecting endangered species less could help save them

After a tense debate, delegates voted by 92 votes to 42 to upgrade the Oceanic whitetip to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).

BBC: Cites meeting votes to protect Oceanic whitetip shark

Dr Rivalan and his colleagues have shown that this long-winded process gives the market so much time to respond that bumping animals up from Appendix II to Appendix I can do more harm than good.

ECONOMIST: Protecting endangered species less could help save them

Polar bears have been listed under Appendix II of the CITES accords, which applies to species that are not currently threatened with extinction but may face it without restrictions on the trade of their body parts.

CNN: World rejects new protections for polar bears