Inaugural ‘Scaling Up Pangolin Conservation’ Conference Held in Singapore (via Annamiticus)
Wildlife Reserves Singapore and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN-SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group have organized the first ever global conference on the protection and conservation of pangolins. The four day “Scaling up Pangolin Conservation” conference…
Indonesia: 26 Pangolins and 10 Pythons Seized from Smugglers (via Annamiticus)
26 pangolins and ten pythons were confiscated when a smuggling attempt on the southwest coast of Sumatra was foiled by authorities. The Bengkulu Natural Resouce Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Kepahiang District Police (Polres) seized the pangolins and pythons in the Bermani Ilir sub-district on…
Nepal: Rhino Horn and Pangolin Smugglers Arrested (via Annamiticus)
In less than a month’s time, Nepalese authorities have rounded up 12 suspects in three separate incidents for smuggling rhino horns and pangolin scales. On April 27th, six rhino horn traders were arrested in Bardibas (Mahottari district). Bhishma Humagain, Inspector of Police at Bardibas Area Police…
Four Pangolin Smuggling Busts in Four Countries in 10 Days (via Annamiticus)
It seems that no pangolin population is safe from the deadly illegal trade: During the final ten days of April 2013, pangolins and scales were seized in the Philippines, India, Cameroon, and France. On April 20th — just days after the shocking discovery of 2,000 frozen pangolins on a Chinese fishing…
Pangolin Trafficking: 2011 to April 2013 [Infographic] (via Annamiticus)
A conservative estimate of pangolin trafficking from 2011 through April 20th, 2013, suggests that more than 100,000 of these small mammals could have been killed in less than three years. Since most illegal wildlife trade is undetected, we based our estimate on seizures reported by the media for the…
Philippines: Thousands of Frozen Pangolins Discovered on Chinese Ship (via Annamiticus)
A Chinese fishing vessel which ran aground in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Philippines, was carrying 400 boxes of frozen pangolins in its cargo hold. Each box reportedly contained 25 to 30 pangolins. The 12 Chinese fishermen aboard the ship were taken into custody…
Southeast Asia: Over 200 Live Pangolins Seized in Less Than 10 Days (via Annamiticus)
Authorities in Malaysia and Thailand have intercepted two illegal shipments of live pangolins in a span of less than 10 days. The first incident occurred on on March 19th, when Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks seized 133 pangolins at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).…
Although 2012 was an undeniably difficult year for the elusive pangolin, there is indeed hope for this unique species. Between January and July 2012, at least 43 pangolin seizures were made across eleven countries, representing approximately 2,550 pangolins (scales, flesh and whole pangolins, dead…