One word that usually springs to mind when one thinks of wild animals such as elephants, rhinos and tigers: poaching. Around the world there are many species of organisms that are nearing extinction due to the barbaric and illegal practice. Despite international attention around those animals, the most trafficked animal on Earth is nearly never discussed: the pangolin.
The pangolin is a yellow to dark brown colored nocturnal scale-covered mammal that is present in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. There are around eight species of pangolin extant, with four in Africa and four in Asia. All eight of these species are rapidly decreasing in population due to a desire for their scales in traditional Asian medicine as well as bush meat. These insectivores usually do not grow more than a little over three feet. They mainly feast on ants and termites using their long tongues, and are sometimes compared to anteaters. Pangolins are one of the most unique animals on Earth in that they are the only mammals to have scales. The population of these animals have also been greatly affected in nations like India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and others. In the last decade, more than a million pangolins have been slaughtered, with at least 100,000 killed every year, leaving scientists no accurate estimate of how many are left, besides the certainty of a significant drop in their wild population. The scales of Pangolin made of keratin, the same material present in the fingernails of a human, are widely desired. In China, the appetite for the pangolin has increased among the rising middle class because a Pangolin’s scales is seen as a status of wealth and the supposedly medicinal cancer-treating properties of its body. In Africa, pangolins are used as a food source, commonly referred to as "bush meat". Pangolin products are also used in other materials such as boots, and many pangolins have lost their natural habitats due to deforestation. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, pangolins can fetch over $1,000 on the lucrative $20 billion wildlife black market, offering many opportunities for unruly poachers, smugglers and organized crime syndicates. Thousands of pangolins are shipped across the world, creating a huge profit for those involved in the trafficking these animals. In one instance, over four tons of pangolin scales were seized in Hong Kong in June 2016, worth over $1.25 million. Moreover, the value of these scaled-mammals has astronomically risen. In the 1990s, one kilogram of pangolin in China was valued at around $14, but in 2016 the value had skyrocketed to over $600. The Pangolin’s only defense mechanism is rolling into a ball-like shape when there is a threat present. While this may be effective against predators such as lions, poachers can easily catch and slaughter them. The Pangolin’s slow breeding cycle combined with the rapid depletion of the pangolin population means recovering from these losses will be extremely difficult. No animal deserves this plight, but Pangolin trafficking also acts a major source of income to crime syndicates, especially in Asia. Smuggling of these animals takes place from on different routes, such as from Africa to Asia or from Southeast Asia to China. In fact, as pangolin numbers are dwindling in Southeast Asia and China, an increasing number of them have to be smuggled in from Africa into areas in Asia where there is a voracious appetite for them. This worldwide network of illegal wildlife trafficking helps create powerful criminal syndicates whose illegal cooperation nets millions of dollars. In addition, with not enough action being taken, the pangolin will become another species that humans ignore as they enter extinction. Future generations will not be able to observe this unique mammal. Despite these grave prospects, there have been efforts to tackle this issue and to bring more awareness to pangolin's plight. For example, the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group was established in order to promote awareness and to conduct research and initiate projects relating to the conservation of these organisms. Some nations in Africa and Asia have laws that prohibit the capturing, selling, and trading of pangolins, but the presence of widespread and rampant corruption among bureaucracies in some of these states nevertheless allows for unabated poaching and smuggling. However, a giant step was made in September 2016 when the 182 member nations of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species unanimously agreed and declared a ban on the international trade of multiple species that continue to be seriously threatened, including the pangolin. Furthermore, China, Vietnam, and other nations have stepped up their seizures of smuggled pangolin products at airports and other transportation facilities. There have also been calls to put the pangolin on the Convention's Appendix 1, which is a classification of organisms that are considered to be critically endangered, calling for reforms such as increased penalties for criminals and further protection for the pangolin to be put in place. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has launched a program to train future Central African conservationists to promote the cause of protecting pangolins. Many national parks, especially in Asia, are attempting to act as safe havens for pangolins, help those that are seized, some of which are critically injured, and to begin breeding programs like the Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam. Non-government organizations have also been involved in discussing endangered species. In June 2017, National Geographic published an article discussing how zoos, especially the San Diego Zoo, are attempting breeding programs to rejuvenate the population. However, pangolin usually die within five years of captivity. Despite this, zoos want to educate the public about this almost unknown organism as well as sponsoring further research in Africa. There are also efforts to produce a genetically diverse group of pangolins that will be self-sustaining in zoos. These are just some of the worldwide efforts to combat the poaching, smuggling, and trading of the endangered pangolin and programs to save it from extinction. Despite this, much of the world still has yet to even hear the name of this organism. Hopefully in the future the general public will not only think of elephants and tigers when the word "endangered" is heard, but also the pangolin as well. |
By Ryan LamRyan is a contributing member for the Hallway Herald, always hoping to improve his writing! ArchivesCategories |