Due to the high numbers of the Pangolin being poached, mostly due to their scaly exterior, the animal has been added to the list of borderline endangered species and its trade has been declared illegal by renowned wild life organizations.
Reportedly, upwards of 1 million Pangolins have been poached in the past decade alone and could very well be called on the world’s most trafficked mammal according to the international union for the conservation of nature. Interestingly, Pangolins are the only mammals to have an exterior coat of scales. In the past week, all trade of Pangolins has been declared illegal which goes for all eight of its sub-species; as an initiative taken at the convention of trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora or simply – CITES – in Johannesburg.
Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy at many a countries in Asia, while its scales contain keratin and has wide spread use in Chinese medicine. Due to such qualities, there is high demand for the small feral creature.
Most of the poaching is done in East and Central Africa, which has resulted in a declining population of the mammal; and the acquired goods so to speak are sold to traffickers for hefty amounts or to intermediaries who sell it off further for higher amounts or the poachers directly deal with the Chinese consumers.
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