According to Convention on International Trade in Endangered species (CITES) COP 17, which one of the following is transferred from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I by January 2017.

Correct option is B

Introduction
· CITES is an international agreement between governments aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
· Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction, for which trade is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, whereas Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction but in which trade must be controlled.
· Periodic Conferences of the Parties (COP) review and amend the listings based on the latest conservation status and trade pressure data of global flora and fauna.

Information Booster
· The Pangolin is the correct answer, as all eight species of pangolins (four Asian and four African) were moved from Appendix II to Appendix I during CITES COP 17 held in Johannesburg in 2016.
· This transfer, which became effective in January 2017, established a total ban on the international commercial trade of pangolins and their parts.
· Pangolins are often cited as the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world, primarily hunted for their scales used in traditional medicine and their meat, which is considered a delicacy in some cultures.
· The move to Appendix I was a critical legislative step to provide the highest level of protection against the industrial-scale poaching that has decimated their populations.
· CITES COP 17 was a landmark event for the species, as the decision was passed with overwhelming support from the international community to prevent their imminent extinction.

Additional Knowledge
· Gorilla species have been listed in Appendix I of CITES since 1975, long before the 2017 amendment, due to their extreme vulnerability to habitat loss, poaching, and disease.
· Tapir species are also largely listed in Appendix I, with most species included in the highest protection category for several decades to curb the illegal trade in their hides and meat.
· Mongoose species are generally listed in Appendix III or remain in Appendix II depending on the specific species and country, and did not undergo a global transfer to Appendix I during the 2016-2017 period.
· Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade, representing a lower level of international restriction compared to the status given to the Pangolin.