Zimbabwean officials have seized yet another pangolin destined to be sold into the illegal wildlife trade — the third so far this year.

According to the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA), authorities have seized a female Cape Pangolin from suspects in Northeast Zimbabwe who had caught the wild animal in the bush for the purposes of selling it — a crime in Zimbabwe.

It seems the pangolin was turned over to the Tikki Hywood Trust, who have tagged the critter with a tracking device and have released it at a safe and protected area.

Apparently, the incident follows rangers’ confiscation of a de-scaled pangolin carcass in March.

The ZNSPCA reports that the scaleless condition of the carcass suggested that it had likely been procured for the traditional Chinese medicine market.

African pangolins are increasingly being threatened by East and Southeast Asian demand for their flesh, scales, blood, and other body parts — in the wake of the depletion of Asian pangolin populations, which continue to be exploited by poachers and criminal wildlife traders.

In fact, an individual was recently arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle pangolin scales out of Uganda and Chinese national appeared in court in March for charges stemming from his smuggling of pangolin scales from Angola in 2011.

Tikki Hywood Trust

Earlier this year, a juvenile Cape pangolin was seized from a Mozambique national and has been undergoing a sensitive rehabilitation process at the Tikki Hywood Trust.

Last year, the organization played a key role in helping prosecutors file the appropriate charges against suspects that had been arrested for illegal possession of a pangolin, with the goal of maximizing the effectiveness of the legislation Zimbabwe has enacted to protect the scaly anteaters.

Watch our Behind the Schemes interview with Tikki’s Lisa Hywood to learn more about the organization’s ongoing efforts to help the pangolins of Zimbabwe — as well as their other work with Zimbabwean wildlife:

Scaly anteaters spiraling toward extinction

TRAFFIC reports that pangolins are the most commonly encountered mammals in the illegal wildlife trade in Asia.

These animals are in high demand in East and Southeast Asia, with China and Vietnam identified as the largest consumer nations.

There, the flesh of adults and fetuses are consumed as delicacies and for myths surrounding good fortune and ‘health benefits’.

Like other animal-based traditional Chinese medicines, pangolins’ blood and body parts – especially their scales – are superstitiously used as a ‘cure-all’ remedy for things like reducing swelling, improving liver function, weight loss, stimulating blood circulation, and enhancing lactation in breast-feeding women.

Reckless rumors have also been spun claiming pangolin scales can cure cancer.

There is no scientific evidence to support any of the medicinal claims made about pangolin body parts.

In fact, rhino horn and pangolin scales (much like our own hair and nails) are chiefly composed of keratin and studies have repeatedly shown rhino horn to be void of any medicinal properties.

An estimated 41,000 – 60,000 pangolins were poached last year alone and perhaps as many as 700-800 have been confiscated in at least 16 media-reported busts so far this year.

Additionally, the demand for pangolin parts is apparently being stimulated by lucrative ‘medicinal use’ pangolin farming ventures in China.

Read “8 Things Everyone Should Know About the Booming Illicit Pangolin Trade” for more information.

Image ©Pam Krzyza

Want to help? Check out our pangolin t-shirts: Project Pangolin is contributing $2.00 per t-shirt or hoodie to Education for Nature-Vietnam.

Forest department officials in India have returned a ten kilogram pangolin to the wild, after it wandered into a populated area.

IBNLive reported on the story, which unfolded in Betanda-Balisahi earlier this week.

Ranger, Sarat Chandra Sahu, explained that people are often afraid of the toothless animals, which they mistakenly perceive as a dangerous threat.

Pangolins are not a threat to humans

He added that there is a strong need to educate the public about these animals to dispel such myths and replace them with facts: pangolins are completely harmless to humans (unless you attempt to physically handle them) and are an important part of the forest ecosystem, serving as natural pest controllers and soil caretakers.

Their large and elongated claws enable them to burrow underground for shelter and to excavate ant and termite nests for food.

In doing so, the soil is mixed and aerated—much like what happens when we till gardens or plow crop fields.

This improves the nutrient quality of the soil and aids the decomposition cycle, providing a healthy substrate for lush vegetation to grow from.

Additionally, it is said that a single pangolin consumes as much as 70 million insects per year—mainly ants and termites. Seventy million!

That’s about 191,780 insects per day! Imagine an area that is home to 15 pangolins. Those animals alone could potentially eat as many as 1.05 billion insects annually!

Read more about the important role pangolins play in the ecosystem here.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Between January and April of this year, media reported on at least fourteen pangolin busts worldwide — and there have already been two others this month.

The events took place across eight countries around the globe and saw the confiscation of an estimated minimum of 600-700 pangolins.

• January: 5
• February: 2
• March: 4
• April: 3
• May: 2 (so far)

Including the two seizures made so far this month (one in Malaysia and one in India), the total may even be as high as 700-800 or more.

Most of these cases involved whole carcasses or live animals, but pangolin scales alone were also seized once in Nepal (seven kilos) and twice in the Philippines (for a total of 102 kg).

The largest known seizure in 2012 took place in Thailand, when 180 of the animals were confiscated from a smuggler in January.

It’s possible that the haul may be outweighed by a March bust in Vietnam that included over 5,000 kg of frozen pangolin and iguana carcasses, but authorities did not detail what percentage of their seizure was comprised of pangolins.

More busts, but less pangolins than in 2011

During the same period last year, media reported on no fewer than six busts that took place around the world.

These included a minimum total of 349 pangolins that were seized in Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand, as well as an additional 4,726 kilograms of flesh or carcasses confiscated in Africa and 300 kg of the animals’ scales in India.

But experts warn that these busts represent only a small fraction of what’s actually circulating the illegal wildlife trade.

In fact, many suggest authorities only detect about 20% of the wildlife in the black market network -– meaning the total number of pangolins poached in 2011 could be as many as 41,000 to 60,000 individuals.

Chinese authorities seize pangolins from altered vehicle

Last month, Inside China reported that the Qinzhou City Forest Police found 41 dead pangolins and four lives ones stashed under the back seat of a vehicle that had been modified to conceal the illicit haul.

Apparently some arrests were made, but it seems one suspect also absconded after getting a tip off about law enforcement’s plans to apprehend him.

While this is the only pangolin bust media has reported on in China this year, a Chinese national was brought to court in March for illegally smuggling pangolin scales into the country from Angola in 2011.

Pangolin crisis worsens

Demand for the scaly anteaters stems primarily from China and Vietnam, where the flesh of adults and fetuses is considered a delicacy and their scales (and blood and other body parts) are used to make traditional Chinese medicines.

Consumers superstitiously believe these concoctions can reduce swelling, improve liver function, promote weight loss, stimulate blood circulation, enhance lactation in breast-feeding women, and even cure cancer, among other things.

There is no scientific evidence to support any of the medicinal claims made about pangolin body parts.

In fact, both rhino horn and pangolin scales — much like our own hair and nails — are chiefly composed of keratin and studies have repeatedly shown rhino horn to be void of any curative properties.

The already insatiable appetite for pangolins and their body parts is likely being stimulated by lucrative ‘medicinal use’ pangolin farming ventures in China. (Read more about it here.)

Image ©Project Pangolin/Saving Rhinos LLC

An Indian Paramilitary force has busted two wildlife smugglers carrying pangolin scales toward the Myanmar border.

The Times of India reported on the Assam Rifles’ recent bust, explaining that the duo were illegally transporting twelve kilograms of pangolin scales and appeared to be moving toward the border town of Moreh.

Myanmar is a known smuggling route, popular amongst wildlife traffickers transporting contraband to and from China.

Last November, the Rifles also seized fourteen kilograms of scales from a pair of suspects near Moreh, but the outcome of their criminal proceedings is unknown.

This appears to be India’s first pangolin bust so far this year.

Media reported on at least eight in 2011, which amounted to no fewer than 700 of the scaly anteaters in sum — and perhaps as many as almost 1,000.

Interestingly, it seems that it is mostly the animals’ scales that are moving through India, as scales alone (no bodies, no flesh) were sized in all but one of the eight incidents.

Plight of the pangolins

An estimated 41,000 (and perhaps as many as 60,000) pangolins were poached from the wild in 2011 alone.

The demand for these insectivorous mammals stems primarily from China and Vietnam, where their flesh considered a delicacy and is also consumed for perceived “health benefits”, such as kidney nourishment.

Additionally, traditional Chinese medicine consumers superstitiously believe ingesting concoctions derived from pangolin scales (and blood and other body parts) can reduce swelling, improve liver function, promote weight loss, stimulate blood circulation, enhance lactation in breast-feeding women, and even cure cancer, among other things.

There is no scientific evidence to support any of the medicinal claims made about pangolin body parts.

In fact, rhino horn and pangolin scales, much like our own hair and nails, are chiefly composed of keratin and studies have repeatedly shown rhino horn to be void of any curative properties.

Demand for pangolin parts is likely being stimulated by lucrative pangolin farming ventures in China. (Read more about it here.)

Image by Dushy Ranetunge via Wikimedia Commons

Malaysian wildlife officials have seized 94 live pangolins from a cargo shipment.

According to the Jakarta Globe, authorities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport have intercepted a shipment of pangolins last Thursday.

The 94 animals were discovered alive inside 43 boxes that were part of a shipment apparently labelled as “crabs”.

Smugglers frequently attempt to disguise their illicit pangolin hauls as some sort of seafood, such as “fish” or “frozen fish”.

State Director of Malaysia’s wildlife agency, Perhilitan, told The Star estimated the worth of the 94 pangolins to be roughly RM 106,000 (almost US $34,500) and said that pangolin flesh (popular as a delicacy and for its perceived ‘health benefits’) can fetch up to RM220 (over US $ 71) per kilogram on the black market.

The Star reports that although no arrests have yet been made, authorities claim to have information on both the importer and exporter of the illegal cargo.

As pangolins are protected by Malaysian law, offenders would face a fine of up to RM 100,000 (about US $32,500), three years in prison, or both.

Officials at the airport’s cargo complex also seized 555 live cobras and 171 giant Asian pond turtles just the week before, which were reportedly destined for restaurants in Hong Kong.

So far this year, media has reported on at least four pangolin seizures in Malaysia (including last week’s), involving no fewer than 229 pangolins.

At this rate, Malaysia is likely to blow past last year’s six such busts reported by media, which involved at least 1,292 of the scaly anteaters.

Headed for extinction

Demand for these animals stems primarily from China and Vietnam, where the flesh is consumed both as a delicacy and for perceived ‘health benefits’, and other parts of their bodies — particularly the scales — are used to make ‘cure-all’ traditional Chinese medicine remedies.

However, there are no scientific evidence to back any of the medicinal claims made about pangolins.

In fact, their scales are made of keratin — the same protein that comprises rhino horn and human hair and nail — and laboratory studies have confirmed that rhino horn is void of any curative medicinal properties.

An estimated 41,000 pangolins (and perhaps as many as 60,000) were killed for this illegal trade in 2011.

It’s believed that ‘medicinal use‘ pangolin farms in China have been stimulating the demand for the defenseless creatures.

Image: ©Pam Krzyza

Want to help? Check out our pangolin t-shirts: Project Pangolin is contributing $2.00 per t-shirt or hoodie to Education for Nature-Vietnam.

A university student was recently arrested in Uganda, after he was found in possession of pangolin scales and illegal ivory from elephants and hippos.

The Independent reports that the student had four kilograms of pangolin scales, as well as 76 ivory hippo teeth and two elephant tusks.

The article went on to explain that the suspect was linked to local business man, Yokoyada Nuwagaba.

The incident adds to mounting concern for African pangolins, which are now being targeted for illegal traditional Chinese medicine markets.

Chinese national appears in court for smuggling pangolin scales and ivory from Angola

In March, People’s Daily Online reported that a Chinese national was in court after he was caught smuggling elephant ivory and six pangolin scales into China from Angola last year.

The contraband was discovered in his luggage at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and although he claimed he did not intend to sell the items, he apparently fled after he was busted by officials.

According to the report, the man– a construction company employee named Tan — faced a five year jail sentence; however, there does not appear to be any updates on the final outcome of the case.

African pangolins under threat

Black markets in East and Southeast Asia are now targeting the pangolins of Africa, as populations of Asian species have been severely reduced by illicit demand.

Although the scaly anteaters have traditionally been hunted as a protein source and for local superstition-steeped cultural uses throughout their African ranges, it seems this market may now be being exploited by East Asian consumers.

A 2010 blog article on the Alibaba Business Blog recounts some such individuals’ experience in the Niger River Basin, who watched as live pangolins be prepared for their dining enjoyment — including a mother and her baby.

In 2009, a shipment of 100 kg of pangolin scales was intercepted en route to Hong Kong from Côte d’Ivoire.

Two years later, Mozambique officials discovered pangolin scales hidden in a container of ivory and unprocessed timber — an incident that was ultimately linked to Miti, a Chinese logging company operating in the area.

The Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA) reports that a woman was also arrested in Cameroon in January, after she attempted to sell one giant ground pangolin.

There are four species of pangolin living across Africa:

• Three-cusped pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) — ‘Near Threatened’
• Giant ground pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) — ‘Near Threatened’
• Long-tailed pangolin (Uromanis tetradactyla) — ‘Least Concern’
• Cape pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) — ‘Least Concern’

Pangolin crisis worsens

Demand for these animals stems primarily from China and Vietnam, where their flesh is consumed both as a delicacy and for perceived health benefits, and other pangolin body parts — especially their scales — are used to make ‘cure-all’ traditional Chinese medicines.

However, there is no scientific evidence to support any of the medicinal claims made about the scaly anteaters.

In fact, their highly coveted scales are comprised mainly of keratin — the same protein that makes up rhino horn and human hair and nails.

Laboratory studies have repeatedly found rhino horn to be void of any curative medicinal properties.

Like other endangered wildlife products, pangolin flesh and scales have even been found for sale on numerous popular websites.

It’s also believed that lucrative ‘medicinal use’ pangolin farms in China have accelerated the plight of the pangolins by stimulating demand for their body parts.

Want to help? Check out our pangolin t-shirts: Project Pangolin is contributing $2.00 per t-shirt or hoodie to Education for Nature-Vietnam.

In order to maximize profits, wildlife traffickers in Vietnam use brutal techniques to increase the weight of pangolins.

A little-known horror of the illegal pangolin trade is that these defenseless mammals are often forced to endure painful “fattening procedures”.

According to a translated account by Education for Nature-Vietnam, the pangolin is restrained while a tube is inserted down the throat, so that a starchy concoction can be pumped into the helpless animal’s stomach.

Pangolins were taken from the cages and held still by a strong male in the group. A spout was put down the pangolins throat, which was attached to a hand-made pump. The procedure must be done carefully and skillfully because if the spout is inserted incorrectly, into the windpipe for example, the starch could kill the pangolin instantly. Another person pumped the starch slowly through the spout until the stomach was full.

A pangolin’s weight is said to increase by 2 – 5 kg after undergoing the “procedure”.

However, force feeding isn’t the only way that traffickers torture their victims.

Research published by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia notes that pangolins are also “injected” with liquids.

Pangolins in Viet Nam are sold according to weight. The health of live pangolins in the trade is further compromised by a cruel practice designed to increase the live weight of pangolins for sale. Corn flower mixed with water or other liquids are often force fed or injected under the skin of pangolins.

Tragically, tens of thousands of pangolins are killed on a yearly basis to satisfy an insatiable illegal market for pangolin scales and flesh — both of which are consumed in China for purported “health benefits”.

Hope for pangolins

Fortunately, there is hope for the scaly anteaters.

Earlier this year, a new IUCN-SSC Pangolin Specialist Group was established in order to be “a global voice for pangolins by working to advance knowledge and understanding of pangolins worldwide, their conservation needs, natural history and ecology and to catalyze action to meet these needs.”

Comprised of researchers from around the world, the pangolin specialist group will be examining issues “ranging from illegal trade, pangolin ecology, genetics and behavior.”

Photo used with permission and courtesy of Education for Nature-Vietnam.

Additional source: Sandrine Pantel and Chin Sing Yun (ed.). 2009. Proceedings of the Workshop on Trade and Conservation of Pangolins Native to South and Southeast Asia, 30 June-2 July 2008, Singapore Zoo, Singapore. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Author: Rhishja Cota-Larson. Learn more about Rhishja here.

A new International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN-SSC) specialist group has recently been established for pangolins.

The group was formed in February of this year, following the IUCN SSC Specialist Group Chairs meeting in Abu Dhabi.

According to the IUCN, the IUCN-SSC Pangolin Specialist Group’s mission is to “be a global voice for pangolins by working to advance knowledge and understanding of pangolins worldwide, their conservation needs, natural history and ecology and to catalyze action to meet these needs.”

Comprised of researchers from around the world, the pangolin specialist group will be examining issues “ranging from illegal trade, pangolin ecology, genetics and behavior.”

Chris R. Shepherd, Deputy Regional Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, welcomed the good news.

The formation of this Specialist Group is a great step forward. Bringing together a wide range of expertise and dedicated people to focus on the conservation of these amazing animals is key to their long term survival.

Learn more about ‘scaly anteaters’

There are four species of Asian pangolin (thick-tailed, Sunda, Chinese and Philippine) and four species of African pangolin (three-cusped, giant ground, Cape, and long-tailed).

It is estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 pangolins were killed for the illegal trade in 2011.

Pangolin scales are used as somewhat of a cure-all in traditional Chinese medicine, although the medicinal effects remain unproven. In addition, the flesh is consumed in China for its (unproven) health benefits.

Learn more about pangolins:

• 25 Facts About Pangolins!
• ‘Medicinal Use’ Pangolin Farms in China?
• 2011: A Devastating Year for Pangolins
• Chinese Demand for Pangolins Spreads to Africa
• 8 Things Everyone Should Know About the Booming Illicit Pangolin Trade

Image © Project Pangolin

Author: Rhishja Cota-Larson. Learn more about Rhishja here.

An estimated 43-64 pangolins were seized from a vehicle in Vietnam on Monday.

Vietnamese officials have made their second pangolin bust of the year.

TalkVietnam reports that police discovered 304 kilograms of live pangolins from a vehicle they stopped days ago.

The seizure reflects an estimated 43-64 pangolins.

Apparently, the animals have been handed over to the provincial Department of Forest Protection.

It is unclear if any arrests were made in connection with the incident.

Five tonnes of frozen pangolin and iguana carcasses seized last month

Last month, Vietnamese authorities raided a warehouse near the Chinese border and reportedly found some 5,000 frozen pangolin and iguana carcasses.

The alleged owner of the carcasses – said to be a 30 year-old wildlife trader – apparently confessed to police that he had bought the animals from somewhere in central Vietnam and had planned to sell them in China.

However, it seems the man had not been arrested at that time and no further updates have emerged since initial reports.

At least five pangolin busts were made in Vietnam in 2011, involving at least 300 individual animals.

Local NGO fights illegal wildlife trade

A local non-profit organization, Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), is fighting to end illegal wildlife trade — including that of the scaly anteaters — through their tireless work with the public.

They’ve developed some wonderful education programs and have launched numerous public awareness campaigns.

Additionally, ENV established a “Wildlife Crime Unit” (WCU) in 2005, which encourages the public to report wildlife crime activities.

The WCU also has a toll-free national hotline through which citizens can easily and anonymously file reports and provide tips to aid law enforcement officers. (Locals can dial 1800 1522 and reports can also be submitted online at the ENV website.)

Last year, ENV published a report on pangolin trade in Vietnam between 2005 and 2011, which documented seizures of some 3,385 pangolins over that time. (Read more about it here.)

You can help Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV) make a difference for Vietnam’s wildlife.

Check out ENV’s website at envietnam.org to learn more.

You can also help with a pangolin t-shirt: Project Pangolin is contributing $2.00 per t-shirt or hoodie to Education for Nature-Vietnam.

Pangolin crisis worsens

An estimated 41,000 (and perhaps as many as 60,000) pangolins were poached from the wild in 2011 alone.

This rampant slaughter is driven by an insatiable demand for the scaly anteaters that stems primarily from China and Vietnam.

There, the flesh of adults and fetuses are consumed as delicacies and for superstitions surrounding good fortune and ‘health benefits’.

Like other animal-based traditional Chinese medicines, pangolins’ blood and body parts – especially their scales – are superstitiously used as a ‘cure-all’ remedy for things like reducing swelling, improving liver function, weight loss, stimulating blood circulation, enhancing lactation in breast-feeding women, and even cancer.

There is no scientific evidence to support any of the medicinal claims made about pangolin body parts.

In fact, rhino horn and pangolin scales (much like our own hair and nails) are chiefly composed of keratin and studies have repeatedly shown rhino horn to be void of any medicinal properties.

It’s now believed that the plundering of these mammals has been greatly amplified by lucrative ‘medicinal use’ pangolin farming ventures in China, which have seem to have significantly increased the demand for these animals.

Image by Sandip Kumar (own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Living in colder, higher elevations than most pangolins, the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) appears to be the only pangolin species that “hibernates” (although not considered a true hibernation, it’s actually more of an “overwintering”)!

Weighing in at around two to seven kilograms and reaching lengths of 70-127 centimeters (about 27-50 inches), these scaly anteaters spend their winters nestled in deep burrows near termite mounds, which provide them with a food source for the cold season.

During this time, females give birth to a single offspring, which they nurture until they emerge together in the spring.

Although babies can walk on their own, they are carried around on their mother’s tail – much like other pangolin species.

Manis pentadactyla inhabits a variety of habitats, including primary and secondary tropical forests, limestone forests, bamboo forests, grasslands, and even agricultural fields and grasslands.

For the Chinese pangolin, its home is also its kitchen!

Vietnamese hunters say they dig long underground burrows, which they use to both snack on termites and to sleep in.

These animals may also utilize burrows created by other animals or even occasionally enlarge subterranean termite passages to make their own.

In China, their distribution is closely tied to that of two particular termite species (Coptotermes formosanus and Termes (Cyclotermes) formosanus) – both major components of this mammal’s diet.

As you’ve probably guessed, the Chinese pangolin is predominantly terrestrial, but they are fully capable of climbing trees.

They are solitary, mainly nocturnal creatures, although they may sometimes be active at dusk and dawn.

Little is known about this species’ life history, but it is believed that they reach sexual maturity around one year of age and that they mate over a period of three to five days – usually in the late summer and early autumn.

Unfortunately, their terrestrial nature seems to make them more susceptible to (illegal) hunting than other more arboreal species, such as the Sunda pangolin.

In fact, overhunting – for international trade in their scales, meat, and other body parts – is the lead cause of their escalating plight.

• IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered (since 2008)
• Protection: Protected by national or subnational legislation in many range states and also protected from international trade under CITES Appendix II with a zero export quota
• Range: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam

Described as being common in some parts of its range as recently as the 1980s, the Chinese pangolin is now suffering dramatic declines throughout their range.

In fact, in Vietnam and Laos, they are now considered to be extremely rare and may be dangerously close to extinction in the latter, if they are not already.

Sadly, there is virtually no information available about the population sizes of any of the Asian pangolin species.

Their scales, blood, and other body parts are in high demand in Traditional Chinese Medicines, and their highly sought after meat is consumed as a Chinese delicacy or superstitiously to acquire perceived “health benefits”.

Some are even being farmed for their scales in China.

However there is no scientific evidence to back the medicinal claims made about these animals.

Demand for pangolin stems mainly from China and Vietnam.

Increased law enforcement, firm penalties for offenders, and further research are all urgently needed to help this species persist into the future.

It seems the Chinese pangolin (as well as all other pangolin species) would benefit greatly from being uplisted to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Fun facts about the Chinese pangolin

• They walk on their knuckles with their claws folded under, which makes for some unique spoor!
• Their claws can reach up to five centimeters in length.
• In Mandarin, they are called ‘Long Li’, which means “hill carp” (referring to the their scales being somewhat similar to those of the Chinese carp).

“Chinese pangolin (Manis pentactyla),” Arkive, accessed 28 January, 2012

Zoological Society of London. “91. Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla),” Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally Endangered (EDGE), accessed 28 January, 2012

Image #1 via Wikimedia Commons

Image #2 via Wikimedia Commons, with range added by author