The world’s most trafficked mammal may vanish before many people have ever heard of it. The pangolin, a shy and scaly animal, resembles an armadillo and is found in both Africa and Asia. All eight species, four found on each continent, are decreasing in population and are at risk of extinction. Pangolins have seen a rapid decline in their population in the last several decades. In areas of accelerated human population growth, habitat loss is a grave threat for pangolins. Poaching also is a dire threat: Pangolins are slow-moving and will roll themselves into a ball if they feel threatened — making them easy targets. Their armour – plated scales can cut and inflict serious wounds on a lion, leopard, or hyena — but are no match for a weapon-wielding human. Poachers simply pick pangolins up and drop them into a bag.
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world — poachers kill as many as 2.7 million African Pangolins every year. Although pangolins are a protected species in China, there is a thriving black market for pangolin meat and especially for scales, which account for 20 percent of body weight. The scales are in high demand for use in traditional Chinese medicine. People believe the scales cure arthritis and cancer, promote breast-feeding for lactating mothers, improve poor circulation, and even enhance male vitality — despite no scientific backing for any of these “cures.” In fact, pangolin scales are made of keratin — the same material in human fingernails.
Some Facts
- In East Malaysia’s Sabah state of Borneo. Authorities found nearly 30 metric tonnes of pangolin products, including 1,800 boxes of frozen pangolins, an additional 572 pangolins frozen separately, 61 live pangolins, and 361 kilograms of pangolin scales.
- In a January 2019 bust, officers found 8 tonnes of pangolin scales — estimated to come from more than 14,000 pangolins
- Nearly 12 tonnes of pangolin scales were seized in Singapore in April 2019 — representing 36,000 killed pangolins. A 40-foot container labelled as “frozen beef” was on its way to Vietnam from Nigeria before Singapore customs flagged the suspicious shipment. The scales were packed in 230 bags alongside almost 400 pounds of carved elephant ivory. The total shipment was worth an estimated USD $38.7 million.
African Wildlife Foundation – Jacqueline Conciatore October 15, 2019
World Pangolin Day
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