An estimated 23.5 tonnes of pangolins and their body parts were trafficked in 2021 alone.
In just ten years, it is estimated that 1,000,000 pangolins were poached.
These pangolin are often destined for the traditional medicine market in Asia or bushmeat markets in Central and West Africa.
Some efforts underway to protect pangolins
China announced an annual quota of one metric ton of pangolin scales for medicinal use.
This is not enough to protect the species, but is somewhar lower than past quotas because according to the Pangolin Conservation Research Centre of the National Forestry and Grasslands Administration, one metric ton of pangolin scales means the killing of about 2,000 pangolins.
The Chinese Pangolin is one of two species that researchers have now provided high-quality, nearly gapless genome sequences and analyzed these for information to aid in conservation of these animals.
Both Chinese Pangolin and the Malayan Pangolin, are listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the IUCN.
Back home in South Africa, conservation and security partners are working on a ground-breaking new project in an effort to drastically reduce the accidental electrocution of pangolins on electrified fences.
At work are the Pangolin.Africa, the Tikki Hywood Foundation and the Kalahari Wildlife Project, in collaboration with Stafix electric fence and security company.
According to Pangolin.Africa, electrical installations, prevalent on game reserves, private game farms, nature reserves and commercial livestock farms across southern Africa, are one of the biggest threats facing Temminck’s Pangolin.
Studies have found that as many as 1,000 of these pangolins are killed on electrified fences every year in South Africa alone, probably overshadowing the illegal wildlife trade as a threat to pangolins in the region.
This project aims to assess the effectiveness of new technology to significantly reduce, if not entirely prevent, vertebrate mortalities related to electrified fencing while still maintaining the integrity and primary function of the electrified fences.
The pilot phase of the project has begun at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in Limpopo Province, and Glen Lyon Kalahari Nature Reserve and several livestock farms in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
Picture of a Chinese Pangolin