"After years of failing to end this unfettered trade, Thailand should grab the spotlight and shut down these markets that are fuelling the poaching of elephants in Africa, " said Carlos Drews of environmental group WWF.

BBC: CITES meeting to deal with species 'extinction crisis'

"Since armed protection for rhinos in South African national parks is strong, poaching syndicates are likely to shift to countries with weaker enforcement power, including possibly Asian countries that may be caught off-guard, " Carlos Drews, global species programme director at WWF, warned in a statement.

BBC: South Africa record for rhino poaching deaths