11/08/2023
Pangolins are the most trafficked animal on earth, they are heavily hunted and illegally traded for their meat and scales. Pangolins are small, nocturnal, insectivorous mammals that are native to Asia and Africa. They are covered in distinctive scales made of keratin, which is the same material that makes up human hair and nails. These scales are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine and are believed to have medicinal properties that can cure various ailments.
The illegal trade of pangolins has led to a drastic decline in their population, making them one of the most endangered groups of mammals on earth. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), all eight species of pangolin are threatened with extinction, with some populations declining by up to 90% in the past decade.
Pangolins are captured from the wild and sold in huge quantities in black markets in Asia, where they are considered a delicacy and used in traditional medicine. The trade is driven by high demand from China and other Asian countries. Pangolin scales are also smuggled to other parts of the world and used as a luxury food and fashion item, despite the fact that international trade and consumption of pangolins, both wild-caught and captive-bred, has been banned since 2016.
The illegal trade of pangolins is a serious threat to the survival of these species. Conservation efforts are underway to try to protect the remaining pangolin populations, including efforts to fight poaching and trafficking, as well as initiatives to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting pangolins and preserving their habitat.
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