Two suspects were arrested on Monday, for smuggling a Ground Pangolin.
The two were nabbed by the police on the N8 National Road, just outside of Bloemfontein.
They face charges of unlawful possession of an endangered species.
This comes a day before the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) released its report on the state of global pangolins.
According to the report, all 8 pangolin species are at the brink of extinction.
Even more astonishing, court records reveal some 42,7 tonnes of pangolin scales landed in China, from as far back as 2014.
China’s legal domestic market for pangolin medicine products is a key driver of global poaching.
There were 139 smuggling cases in 17 countries, which amounted to 5,465 animals.
The EIA has urged China to close its legal market and launch evidence-led campaigns to reduce demand, in line with CITES recommendations.
Picture: SAPS