For the love of Pangolins

Images from African Geographic

If you didn't already know, I have a soft spot for pangolins. I don't know whether this is because they defend themselves by curling up into a ball or if they are just so under appreciated in the animal world. The pangolin undergoes a heavy amount of poaching and to learn more about them click here.

The reason I have told you about my love for them, is because on the 23rd April the largest case in pangolin smuggling since 2008 was stopped before it could leave Sumatra where it was due to head to China. Along with the haul being stopped, the smuggler was also caught.

The haul included 5 tons of frozen pangolin, 77 kilos of pangolin scales but most importantly 96 live pangolins thought to be worth $1.28 million. The smuggler apparently dealt and exported pangolins that he had ordered through local people in Sumatra.

Currently under Indonesian law, trafficking of pangolins holds up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Since 2008 the government has attempted to tackle the problem and with success stories like this it just shows that although they may not catch every haul they are at least preventing a great deal of them from taking place.

Images from African Geographic

Pangolin scales are used in Chinese traditional medicine whilst their body is a delicacy, the drive for most animal poaching in the world. The price of a pangolin has recently sky rocketed due to the demand from China and until the demand is tackled all we can do is hope the government patrols are able to help reduce the trafficking. Now all 8 pangolin species are critically endangered with most of South Asia having none left.

Hopefully we will be able to stop and reduce the problem before one of the hidden gems of the animal world goes extinct but at least the authorities are heading in the right direction.

Love