ABSTRACT
This convention never came into force but was still important in initiating the process of wildlife conservation at the international level. It set a precedent and benchmark for conserving ‘big game’ in the face of hunting. The convention prompted some European powers to introduce the sorts of measures proposed into their own empires and sow the seeds for them to come together when the international political climate became more benign after the First World War. The British and Germans cosponsored the conference at which the convention was signed. Outside of the European sphere, the notion of restricting the trade in animals and animal parts was also advancing. As can be seen, the Africa Convention granted full protection for eight species and lesser levels of protection afforded to other animal species. Although the convention did not enter international law most of the signatory governments came to enact similar legal restrictions on hunting and trading and wildlife reserves proliferated.
