Pangolins: What are they and why their removal from China's traditional medicine list is important.

Image tweeted by: @WCFF_org

Pangolins are shy animals with a unique appearance that most people have never heard about. These "scaly anteaters" have a similar body shape to armadillos, but oddly enough, biologically more related to bears and dogs. Pangolins are found all across Africa, South East Asia, China and India.

Among eight species of pangolins, three of them are listed as "critically endangered" by IUCN. With 200000 pangolins consumed each year in Asia, they are at the highest danger of being driven to the brink of extinction. Thus, these "scaly anteaters" are currently considered the world's most trafficked mammals in the world.

Why are they being poached?

Slow and shy pangolins are distinguished by curling up into a ball as a protection from large animals. This method has worked for thousands years. But with the advent of humans, they were easily picked up and used for their unfair advantage. It is hard to comprehend the greedy appetite for pangolins in an animal trafficking industry. Nevertheless, there is a high demand for pangolin scales that accounts for 20 percent of their body weight, their blood is used as a healing tonic and their meat is a high-end delicacy sold at the black market. Traditional medicine is the major reason why this industry is still flourishing. Scales are extracted by being boiled off the body and used in treatments for cancer, arthritis, poor blood circulation and the list goes on. Science on the other hand, haven't backed this method for this so-called cure. Conversely, it is proved that keratin rich pangolin scales are made of the same material as human fingernails and have zero miracle effect as a remedy.

Pangolin scales on sale, China

China boosts pangolin protection to the highest level

2020 does have a silver lining, as we have witnessed the news of delisting pangolins from the Chinese traditional medicine pharmacoipea, reported by China's Health Time newspaper.

Shortly after that China's State Forestry and Grassland Administration stepped up and raised the protection status of pangolins from level two to level one. It means they will share the same privileges as pandas and henceforth poachers are expected to face harsher punishments.

"This shows China's rapidly strengthened commitment to protecting wildlife," China Chief Representative for Wildaid Steve Blake told in his interview to The Guardian.

However, the SFGA still grants permits to TCM pharmaceutical companies for using animal parts from old reserves or closed wildlife farms. Alas, experience has shown that this could be a sound cover for wildlife traffickers and poachers to continue their illegal activities.

China taking into consideration the possible relation of COVID-19 to pangolins, as well as bats has taken the next step by imposing a ban on wildlife consumption and shutting down operating wildlife farms.

"We hope China's next move will be to enforce the regulations and work to change consumer behaviour," Co-Founder and Executive Director of Save Pangolins told BBC

Besides, it is yet to be confirmed, whether the status of existing bans also encompasses fur and leather trade.

Pangolins need to be protected not only in China

Pangolin trafficking doesn't stop with China, as it still continues in such countries as Vietnam, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. The trade has been cracked down in the last three countries, but still flourishes in Nigeria and Vietnam as a response to a growing demand.

Justin Mott an award winning photojournalist revealed the day-to-day life of the rescuers from Save Vietnam's Wildlife in his photo-story called Pangolin Rescue Vietnam. This rescue center pursues the mission of rescuing, rehabilitating wild carnivores and pangolins confiscated from illegal wildlife traders. They work around the clock to ensure well being and the fast recovery of pangolins and are often required to perform surgeries in order to save their lives.

An injured pangolin under anesthesia during the operation on his injured tail. Photo: Justin Mott

All things considered, pangolins aren't as popular as tigers, rhinos or elephants, but they need our help to save them from near-extinction. Their extraordinary nature and a unique diet extremely complicates the attempts of saving them through captive breeding programs. As the diet of pangolins includes one or two particular species of ants, termites and other insects, not to mention their extreme temperament and volatility, all of it dwindle their chances to survive in captivity.