By Josie May 24th, 2023
In a recent incident, South African law enforcement were able to score a much needed victory in the battle against the illegal wildlife trade.
Sadly, the pangolin, an exquisite creature often hailed as the “world’s most trafficked mammal.”
Pangolins are covered in tough, overlapping scales made of keratin, much like our fingernails.
These scales act as armor, providing protection from predators.
On average, pangolins measure between 12 to 39 inches in length, from the tip of their snout to the base of their tail.
Its sticky tongue is extremely long and can extend up to 16 inches
With an insatiable appetite, they can consume thousands of insects in a single day, playing a crucial role in controlling insect populations.
All eight species of pangolins are classified as either critically endangered or endangered according to the IUCN Red List.
On May 17th in Gravelotte, in the province of Limpopo in South Africa, law enforcement were able to arrest an illegal wildlife trafficker thanks to a tip off.
Police discovered a pangolin (esitimated worth $7,000) hidden in a bag inside a car’s trunk.
© Hawks
A 59 year-old man has since been charged with illegal dealing in an endangered species.
Illegal wildlife trafficking occurs frequently.
Last year, two individuals (one a police) were charged with illegal pangolin trading and violating environmental conservation laws.