Although many leading zoologists and botanists have expressed their
(concern, )... about the (preservation)... of endangered species, the current
indications are that most of the measures (taken)... to protect these species against (
extinction)... have had only a limited effect. From the
(bottom)... of the sea to mountain slopes, .... Among
these species thousands have died out even before they have been
(discovered)... . As well as hunting, the
greatest (threat)... to plants and animals is
the destruction of rainforests. On (average)... , ... Now CITES has (taken).. on the responsibility of getting 800 species of animals
and plants (banned)... from international
trade and another 23,000 placed under strict controls.