The Pangolin is considered to be the most trafficked animal in the world. According to, Save Pangolins, “Estimates indicate that one adult pangolin can consume more than 70 million insects annually.” If we didn’t have Pangolins, Africa and Asia would be overrun with insects. What Is A Pangolin and Why Are They Trafficked? They are trafficked by poachers all over the world, due to their highly coveted scales which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. A thermal revolution is taking place in a remote northern alliance in Canada. In Africa, pangolins are sold as a form of bushmeat, for ritual or spiritual purposes, and use in traditional African medicine. Sadly, illegal trading of pangolins is still very much alive. It is the largest-ever seizure of its kind, ... which is believed to be the most-trafficked mammal in the world. Pangolins will coil up as a defense mechanism from natural predators (in fact, âpangolinâ means ârollerâ in Malay), but poachers, armed with machetes, bludgeon them until they are motionless. The scales — 14 tons of them — belonged to roughly 36,000 poached pangolins. In China, Vietnam and other parts of southeast Asia, pangolin meat is considered a delicacy. A permanent ban on all wildlife trade is the only long-term solution to keeping wild animals wild, eliminating animal suffering, and preventing major health epidemics. Many times the animal is trafficked just for clothing and fashion. Why are pangolins trafficked? Therefore, their legal commercial use allegedly continues. The Asian pangolin speciesâChinese, Sunda, Indian, and Philippine pangolinsâare critically endangered according to the IUCN, while the African speciesâthe ground pangolin, giant pangolin, white-bellied, and black-belliedâare listed as vulnerable. Unfortunately, pangolins tend to die in captivity. Six of the 27 identified countries and territories disproportionately involved in the trafficking of pangolin scales were found to be linked to 94% (193.2 tonnes) of all seized contraband during the period analysed in this report, with Nigeria and Vietnam playing prominent roles in the supply chain. It is not because of its size or because it has antlers or horns as this animal does not have any antlers or horns. What is land inequality and how does it threaten women? Leopard bone and bear bile are no longer included in the ‘key ingredients’ section of the pharmacopoeia, yet are still listed among ingredients for patent medicines. Despite their reptilian appearance, pangolins are in fact mammals. The high price and rarity signals wealth and elevates one's social status. Alternative Chinese Medicine stacked on shelves. The animals are trafficked mainly for their scales, which are believed to treat a variety of health conditions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and as a luxury food in Vietnam and China. The idea of farming pangolins to reduce the number being illegally trafficked is being explored with little success. Why have high-rise balcony gardens become a hot trend in Dubai? In 2017, Jackie Chan made a public service announcement called WildAid: Jackie Chan & Pangolins (Kung Fu Pangolin). World Animal Protection is a U.S. registered charity EIN #04-2718182 If you’ve never heard of the pangolin, you’re not alone. National Geographic describes them as “shy and elusive” animals - about the size of a golden retriever puppy. The scales that cover their body protect them from predators in the wild and if under threat, they will immediately curl into a tight ball and use their sharp-scaled tails as a form of defence. 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