diff --git a/client/src/lib/api.ts b/client/src/lib/api.ts
index 4e91fdf..d28791d 100644
--- a/client/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/client/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -177,13 +177,8 @@ export const apiClient = {
   
   async checkCitesApiStatus(): Promise<ApiStatusResponse> {
     try {
-      // We'll use the token endpoint to check if the CITES API is accessible
-      const token = await this.getToken();
-      return {
-        success: true,
-        connected: !!token,
-        message: token ? "CITES API is connected" : "CITES API token not found"
-      };
+      const response = await axios.get<ApiStatusResponse>("/api/cites/status");
+      return response.data;
     } catch (error: any) {
       return {
         success: false,
diff --git a/server/routes.ts b/server/routes.ts
index 16021e8..5b4a2aa 100644
--- a/server/routes.ts
+++ b/server/routes.ts
@@ -213,6 +213,56 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
     }
   });
 
+  // CITES API Status check endpoint
+  app.get("/api/cites/status", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+    try {
+      const activeToken = await storage.getActiveToken();
+      
+      if (!activeToken || !activeToken.token) {
+        return res.status(401).json({
+          success: false,
+          connected: false,
+          message: "CITES API token is not configured"
+        });
+      }
+      
+      try {
+        // Make a request to the CITES API to verify the token
+        const response = await axios.get(`${CITES_BASE_URL}/taxon_concepts/search`, {
+          params: { 
+            page: 1,
+            per_page: 1
+          },
+          headers: {
+            'X-Authentication-Token': activeToken.token
+          }
+        });
+        
+        res.json({
+          success: true,
+          connected: true,
+          message: "CITES API is connected and responding"
+        });
+      } catch (error) {
+        if (axios.isAxiosError(error) && error.response) {
+          return res.status(error.response.status).json({ 
+            success: false, 
+            connected: false,
+            message: "Failed to connect to CITES API or invalid token",
+            status: error.response.status
+          });
+        }
+        throw error;
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      res.status(500).json({ 
+        success: false, 
+        connected: false,
+        message: "Error checking CITES API status" 
+      });
+    }
+  });
+  
   // IUCN API Status check endpoint
   app.get("/api/iucn/status", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     try {
@@ -220,13 +270,14 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
       if (!apiKey) {
         return res.status(401).json({
           success: false,
+          connected: false,
           message: "IUCN API key is not configured"
         });
       }
 
-      // Use a region endpoint which is simpler and less prone to errors
+      // Use the version endpoint which is the simplest endpoint
       try {
-        const response = await axios.get(`${IUCN_BASE_URL}/region/list`, {
+        const response = await axios.get(`${IUCN_BASE_URL}/version`, {
           params: { token: apiKey }
         });