Pangolins are in CRISIS, all eight-species are threatened with EXTINCTION.
They are truly unique. There are no other species quite like them in the Animal Kingdom. Of the eight-extant species, four occur in Africa, and the other four in Asia. The first recorded hunting of Pangolins was 6,000 years ago, by the Palawan Tribe, they were the Philippine Pangolin.
As we know, many parts of these shy gentle creatures are used, either to eat or use as ‘cures’ in traditional Chinese medicine. Pangolin scales have historically been used in other countries: they are still used in Vietnam for these purposes and the same is true in many countries in West and Central Africa. As well as ancient ritualistic ceremonies’ some Tribes drank their blood for its believed rejuventive properties.
In traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that the ground-up scales will ‘cure cancer, help women with infertility, childbirth, lactation and other diverse conditions. Such folk law is still believed and only recently have Doctors in China removed pangolin products from the list of acceptable medications to claim through health insurance.
The trafficking of these harmless mammal’s is GLOBAL. Everyone in the long chain is making MONEY.
Their meat is eaten, even on the restaurant menu’s in Vietnam.
SINCE 2000, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 1 MILLION PANGOLINES HAVE BEEN POACHED FROM THE WILD AND TRAFFICKED GLOBALLY.
Pangolins have the highest level of protection possible under international law such as under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). However, these Laws don’t stop the illegal trade from continuing and the black market from thriving. In 2017 there were many illegal shipments of African pangolins, shipments of scales were seized in China, Hong Kong and Malaysia with one shipment involving an estimated 100,000 Pangolins.
THE ART OF SURVIVAL
Our Partner, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) (Registered charity 110684)
DSWF’s mission is to Fight, Protect, and Engage on behalf of endangered wildlife around the world. Founded in 1984 by the celebrated wildlife artist and conservationist, David Shepherd, DSWF continue to reach, inspire, and engage people to join the fight to save wildlife. Through our partnership with DSWF, donations raised will go towards DSWF’s vital conservation work protecting the pangolin.
These donations will be used to fund the following areas of DSWF’s pangolin conservation efforts:
Working at all levels of the illegal wildlife chain to protect pangolins and help to reduce demand for them on the black market and as a consumer product.
Work with ground-based conservation partners to prevent pangolin poaching at its source, funding law enforcement efforts in Africa by tackling the illegal trafficking of the species.
Supporting wildlife rangers on the ground and ensure they have the equipment they need and operational mobility to directly prevent the poaching and trafficking of pangolins.
Funding educational materials and school workshops on the importance of pangolin protection and the implications and risks associated with pangolin poaching to local schools living alongside pangolins.