China strengthens pangolin protection

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Pangolins are the world's most heavily trafficked mammal. Large-scale poaching for their meat considered as a delicacy and scales used for traditional medicine has drastically plummeted their population.

For detailed information about pangolins, please check our previous post.

One million pangolins were illegally traded worldwide over the past 10 years. The number of pangolins involved in illegal trading has surpassed that of elephants and rhinoceros, leaving the species critically endangered.

All eight epecies of the pangolins in the world are considered endangered. /VCG Photo

They are under second-class state protection in China. Also, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has given the highest level of protection to pangolins prohibiting international trade of all eight pangolin species.

In recent years, China has further strengthened the protection of pangolins. The Chinese customs and public security departments have launched a series of campaigns against pangolin trafficking. A total of 209 pangolin smuggling cases were busted from 2007 to 2016.

A pangolin is looking for food on the tree. /VCG Photo

In late September this year, customs staff in southern Guangzhou City busted a smuggling case involving 7.26 tons of pangolin scales. Later in November, police in central Hunan Province detained 129 suspects involved in pangolin trafficking. A total of 216 pangolins and 66 kg of pangolin scales were confiscated.

The crackdown on smuggling has largely reduced these illegal activities. Local governments have rolled out a series of regulations and rules to help protect the animals.

Central Hunan Province has banned wild animal poaching across the province while eastern Anhui Province has launched regular surveys to establish comprehensive records of wild animals and their habitats.

A pangolin in the tree. /VCG Photo

A few non-profits have also participated in the pangolin protection campaign. Volunteers from these organizations not only take care of injured pangolins but are also trained to assist in the investigation of smuggling cases.

Thanks to the conservation efforts, pangolin's population is reviving again in the wild. Zhang Liang, a forest ranger from Shexian County in east China's Anhui Province, said that the rarely seen animals were spotted in the wild twice this year.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency