(IN) Pangolins in trouble

[Guest guest]

The scaly anteater or trenggiling, are the only mammals (and not reptiles as

some ppl are wont to believe) with such an adaptation of keratin scales covering

its body. Native to Africa and Asia, Pangolins are harvested not just as a

popular bush meat but also for their skin. Chinese consider its meat delicacy

and also believe that its scales reduce swelling, helps in increasing the blood

circulation. All these factors alongwith deforestation has led to the decrease

in its population. Illegal trafficking has also resulted in its disappearance.

'Guardian Unlimited', in May 2007, reported that 31 pangolins (along with 5,000

endangered animals) were found on an abandoned vessel off the coast of China.

 

The Guardian recently provided a description of the killing and eating of

pangolins: " A Guangdong chef interviewed last year in the 'Beijing Science and

Technology Daily' described how to cook a pangolin: 'We keep them alive in cages

until the customer makes an order. Then

we hammer them unconscious, cut their throats and drain the blood. It is a slow

death. We then boil them to remove the scales. We cut the meat into small pieces

and use it to make a number of dishes, including braised meat and soup.

Usually the customers take the blood home with them afterwards.'’(from the

net)

 

On November 10, 2007, Thai customs officers announced that they had rescued over

100 pangolins as the animals were being smuggled out of the country, en route to

China, where they were to be sold for cooking. (from the net)

 

On December 22, 2008, Vietnamese customs officials seized around 5 tons of

pangolin meat. It was said that this meat came from 1,481 pangolins. (from the

net)

 

See video below (courtsey: youtube.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V45AdJv0Pga

 

 

Regards

Radhika Singh

(I) C.A.R.E India

(Center for Animal Rescue Rehab and Environment Protection)

_________

" Take nothing but pictures,

Leave nothing but fooprints,

Kill nothing but time "

_________

 

 

" USE LESS PAPER AND SAVE A TREE "

_________

 

 

 

 

________________________________

 

AAPN List <aapn >

Tuesday, 14 July, 2009 3:06:07 PM

Pangolins in trouble

 

 

 

 

 

http://news. ninemsn.com. au/world/ 837347/chinese- demand-wiping- out-pangolins

*Chinese demand 'wiping out' pangolins*

15:59 AEST Tue Jul 14 2009

ago

 

*China's insatiable demand for pangolins is threatening the survival of the

vital pest eaters in Southeast Asia and governments must do more to protect

them, experts and activists say.*

 

The animals are toothless, scaly mammals that provide natural pest control

in the wild by eating ants and termites.

 

" Due to continual demand and the decreasing Chinese wild population, in the

past few years pangolin smuggling from Southeast Asia has resulted in great

declines in these producing countries' wild populations, " wildlife trade

monitoring group TRAFFIC said in a report.

 

" China has a long history of consuming pangolin as meat and in traditional

medicine, " the group said on Tuesday.

 

" Pangolin populations clearly cannot stand the incessant poaching pressure,

which can only be stopped by decisive government-backed enforcement action

in the region, " said Chris Shepherd, Acting Director for TRAFFIC Southeast

Asia.

 

The solution is better enforcement of national and international laws

designed to protect the animals, improved monitoring of the illegal trade

and more research on existing pangolin populations, TRAFFIC said.

 

A spokeswoman for TRAFFIC told AFP that no estimates of the remaining

pangolin populations were available, but the report noted that they are the

most frequently encountered mammals seized from illegal traders in Asia.

 

TRAFFIC quoted hunters and traders as saying there are so few pangolins left

in forests in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos that they are now sourcing the

animals from their last remaining strongholds in Southeast Asia and beyond.

 

Authorities seized 24 tonnes of frozen pangolins from Sumatra, Indonesia, in

Vietnam in March 2008 and 14 tonnes of frozen animals in Sumatra four months

later. African pangolins have also been seized in Asia, TRAFFIC said.

 

" Pangolins save us millions of dollars a year in pest destruction, " said

Simon Stuart, who chairs the Species Survival Commission of the

International Union for Conservation of Nature.

 

" These shy creatures provide a vital service and we cannot afford to

overlook their ecological role as natural controllers of termites and ants. "