CAMPO GRANDE, BRAZIL, March 29, 2026—Governments meeting at the 15th Conference of the Parties (CoP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) have adopted proposals to list both the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) on CMS Appendices I and II, marking a major step forward for coordinated protection and international conservation of these wide-ranging species.

The decisions, finalized in plenary at the close of the meeting, grant both species the highest level of protection under CMS while strengthening mechanisms for cross-border collaboration among range states. Appendix I listing requires strict protection and generally prohibits take, while Appendix II promotes international cooperation to conserve migratory species that traverse national boundaries. 

“These listings send a clear signal that the global community recognizes the urgent need to act for species that depend on connected landscapes and waters that span borders,” said Susan Lieberman, Vice President for International Policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). “For both the giant otter and the striped hyena, conservation success will depend on countries working together across entire ecosystems.”

The giant otter, a charismatic freshwater species of South America, is often described as a sentinel of river health. It depends on vast, interconnected waterways across the Amazon, Orinoco, and Pantanal basins—systems that are increasingly under pressure from habitat degradation, fragmentation, and human disturbance. 

“Once heavily impacted by hunting for its fur, the species has experienced significant range contraction and now occupies only a portion of its historical distribution,” said Rob Wallace, Senior Conservationist with WCS Bolivia. “Today, they are largely restricted to a few strongholds in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Pantanal biomes and many of these strongholds are transboundary across two or more countries.” 

Mounting threats include illegal and artisanal gold mining, which contaminates rivers with mercury, as well as deforestation, infrastructure development, and climate-driven changes to hydrology. Conservation experts emphasize that protecting the giant otter requires safeguarding entire freshwater ecosystems—an effort that no single country can achieve alone.

With its inclusion on CMS Appendices I and II, range states are now expected to strengthen legal protections, improve monitoring, and coordinate conservation actions across borders. The listing also reinforces the importance of maintaining ecosystem integrity and ecological connectivity—ensuring that river systems remain linked and functional for both wildlife and people.

The striped hyena, found across parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, faces a different but equally urgent set of challenges. Despite its wide distribution, the species is experiencing population declines driven by habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict.

Often misunderstood and underappreciated, striped hyenas play a critical ecological role as scavengers, helping to control disease and recycle nutrients within ecosystems. Yet gaps in population data and limited conservation coordination have hindered effective management across much of their range. 

“Striped hyenas depend on connected landscapes that span international borders,” Lieberman said. “CMS provides the framework for countries to work together to conserve migratory species like this one. Without that cooperation, their future remains uncertain.” 

The new CMS listings are expected to catalyze improved data collection, strengthen legal protections, and encourage collaborative conservation planning among countries where the species occurs. For wide-ranging terrestrial species like the striped hyena, such cooperation is critical to maintaining habitat connectivity and reducing threats across fragmented landscapes.

The adoption of these proposals comes at a time of growing concern over the status of migratory species globally. Recent assessments indicate that nearly half of migratory species populations are in decline, underscoring the need for stronger international action. 

CMS, a United Nations–administered treaty with more than 130 Parties, provides a global framework for such cooperation, enabling countries to align conservation efforts for species that move across borders. Decisions taken at CoP15 are expected to shape conservation priorities for years to come, with implications for biodiversity, ecosystem health, and sustainable development worldwide.

WCS played an active role throughout the meeting, supporting science-based proposals and engaging in policy discussions on issues including freshwater conservation, ecological connectivity, and the impacts of overexploitation and trade on migratory species.

“With these listings, governments have taken an important step,” Lieberman added. “Now the real work begins—translating these commitments into coordinated action on the ground to secure a future for these species and the ecosystems they depend on.”

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