The Government of the United States announced this Monday its decision to extend federal protection to the eight species of pangolins known, in an effort to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and conserve these peculiar mammals with scales facing a serious threat of extinction.
So far, only the Temminck’s pangolin, native to Africa, had protection under the Endangered Species Act. The new proposal, presented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeks to also include the other three African species (white-bellied, black-bellied, and giant) and the four Asian species: the Chinese, Indian, Sunda, and Philippine pangolins.
Unique mammals vulnerable to illegal trade
Pangolins inhabit jungles, savannas, and forests of Africa and Asia, are nocturnal and use their long sticky tongues to feed on insects like ants and termites.
Each female only has one offspring per year, which accentuates their vulnerability to poaching and habitat loss. Their keratin scales, used in traditional medicine, and their considered exotic meat, make them a constant target of illegal trade.
Sarah Uhlemann from the Center for Biological Diversity declared, “Pangolins are on the edge of extinction, and we need to close any U.S. market allowing their parts.”
CITES protects them, but trafficking continues
Although pangolins are protected by the CITES Convention, which prohibits their international trade for commercial purposes, seizure operations remain alarming:
- In April, Nigeria seized nearly four tons of pangolin scales, equivalent to about 2,000 animals.
- In November, Indonesia intercepted another 1.2 tons.
The demand in the United States remains significant. According to official data, between 2016 and 2020, 76 illegal shipments of pangolin parts were intercepted, including scales intended for traditional medicine products.
A key step to close the doors to trafficking in the West
The inclusion of all species in the federal protection list aims to strengthen commercial restrictions, enhance border control, and dissuade the consumption of derived products from these mammals.
This measure adds to international efforts to eradicate the illegal trade of one of the most emblematic species of the global biodiversity crisis.
