Plight of the Pangolin: The Most Trafficked Animal on Earth Needs More Protection
When it comes to wildlife crime and trafficking of illegal animal products, elephants and rhinos take the lion's share of media attention. But the little pangolin, an insect-eating mammal that lives in tropical parts of Africa and Asia, is often overlooked, despite being the most heavily-trafficked mammal species.
A new report by Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), the Chinese Public Security Bureau and the Chinese Academy of Sciences details the plight of the pangolin.
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) reports the pangolin as the most trafficked mammal, and most pangolin species are hanging on for survival.
Among the eight pangolin species, six are classified as endangered or near threatened on the IUCN's Red List.
The new report's co-author Chris Newman of WildCRU said that the pangolin's use of a natural defense mechanism makes it more susceptible to trafficking.
"When in jeopardy pangolins roll into a ball and can conveniently be bundled into a sack so that pangolin contraband is easy to transport and often goes unnoticed," he said.
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http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/6367/20140317/plight-of-the-pangolin-the-most-trafficked-animal-on-earth-needs-more-protection.htm
= new reply since forum marked as read
Pity for the poor creatures and total disgust at every single person involved
in the cruel exploitation of the pangolin - poacher, transporter, slaughterer,
seller & consumer.
