TRAFFIC Southeast Asia is one of the world’s most important voices for pangolins. Based in Kuala Lumpur, this regional office of TRAFFIC monitors wildlife trade in Cambodia, Brunei, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Recent pangolin seizures suggest that Africa’s pangolins are increasingly being sourced for the traditional Chinese medicine trade.
A must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the illegal wildlife trade: Black Market: Inside the Endangered Species Trade in Asia by Ben Davies is a shocking portrait of the plundering of endangered species destined for Asia’s illegal wildlife markets.
A pangolin trade report compiled earlier this year by NGO Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV) has uncovered disturbing information about the trafficking of these little-known mammals.
In two separate incidents within a 30-day span, authorities in Thailand and Indonesia have rescued more than 200 pangolins from wildlife traffickers.
Want to learn more about these gentle creatures? Check out this list of eleven cool facts about pangolins. Enjoy!
Pangolin populations are rapidly declining in Southeast Asia, due to the use of their flesh, skin, and scales for traditional Chinese medicine. Even pangolin fetuses are consumed.