The UN conservation body has granted protection to 31 new species, including polar bears, gazelles, whales, and sharks.

After six days of “intense” discussion among conservationists, the UN Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) said it had granted special protection status to a variety of animals, including 21 species of shark, ray, and sawfish, according to Economic Times.

The polar bear, an Arctic resident, was also granted protection status, as was Cuvier’s beaked whale. The red-fronted gazelle in Africa and the great bustard in Europe and Asia made the list in the bird category.

The animals share a key trait: they are migratory, and such animals have “become the global flagships for many of the pressing issues of our times,” stated Bradnee Chambers, who serves as the executive secretary for CMS.

The key threats facing migratory animals include plastic pollution, climate change, and poaching.

It took 900 experts from 120 countries nearly a week to approve the species on the list. Only one species did not make the cut: the African lion, mainly due to a lack of information in the countries where it is found.

The UN body has been meeting for 35 years, and CMS said it was the best attended yet as interest in animal protection increases on a global level.

The meeting was held in Quito, Ecuador.

Some species received different levels of protection. For example, one category requires more comprehensive conservation plans, while a stronger level of protection outright bans killing the animal.