A Lebanese animal rights group connected to the United Nations has convened on the trade in endangered animals in the Middle East, which they say is fueled by corruption, ineffective legislation and lax law enforcement. “It’s a problem in the Arab world that we can no longer ignore,” said Marguerite Shaarawi, co-founder of Animals Lebanon. The group is pushing for Lebanon to join the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, whose signatories are scheduled to meet later this month in Qatar.