Pangolins in distress: 25 animals are being prepared for freedom!

Pangolins in distress: 25 animals are being prepared for freedom!

The illegal trade in pangolins, also known as pangolins, has reached alarming levels in recent years. The animal is heavily poached worldwide. It is estimated that over a million pangolins have been traded illegally in the last decade. This worrying figure highlights the scale of the problem and the high profit margin that comes with the illegal trade prisma.de reported.

In 2018, a film team visited a protection center in Vietnam that was founded out of emergency. Vietnamese authorities have had difficulties dealing with confiscated, sick and weakened animals. The rescue site in Cuc Phuong National Park, 140 kilometers southwest of Hanoi, employs 20 people to care for and recover the confiscated animals.

Pangolins in traditional medicine

Pangolins are particularly sought after for their scales, which are made of keratin and are considered medicinal in many Asian countries. These scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine to promote blood circulation. In addition, their healing powers are attributed to, among other things, stimulating the milk flow of nursing mothers and curing diseases such as asthma and psoriasis. Pangolin meat is also considered a delicacy and status symbol in many Asian countries, which contributes to further demand. However, this tradition is not limited to Asia; Pangolins are also used for medical purposes in Africa, such as in Nigeria, where scale parts are used to treat physical and psychological ailments wwf.de explained.

Despite the ban on hunting pangolins in Vietnam since the late 1990s, illegal poaching continues. The illegal trade has fatal consequences for the populations of all eight pangolin species, which are evenly distributed across Asia and Africa. The demand for pangolins in Asia is increasingly being met by African pangolins, leading to market overlap and further complicating the situation.

Glimmer of hope for pangolins

The current situation requires an urgent rethink. The conservation center in Cuc Phuong National Park has now decided to release 25 pangolins into the wild, which is considered a big moment for the center and the treating veterinarian, Lam Kim Hai. This measure represents a small but important opportunity for the survival of the pangolin species. However, it remains to be seen whether such initiatives are sufficient to address the increasing pressure from illegal trade and growing demand.

The rescue and conservation of pangolins now depends not only on individual sanctuaries, but also requires an international commitment to combat illegal trade and change social attitudes towards these unique animals.