Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter, discovered that 98% of Nigerian pangolins are consumed.
Nigeria has become the “go to destination” for pangolin products, as Asian pangolins have nosedived in popularity.
Dr Charles Emogor, who conducted the study for his PhD at the Department of Zoology, Cambridge, said “thousands of kilograms of pangolin scales are seized at Nigeria’s ports, creating the impression that the international demand for scales is behind pangolin exploitation in West Africa.”In addition , the study also found that two-thirds of the scales are disposed off.
About 800 hunters formed part of the study, along with traders from 33 locations across Nigeria’s Cross River Forest region, between 2020 and 2023.
The University of Exeter said in a statement, 2 days ago, this is at the exact time that conservationists estimate that around 21,000 pangolins were killed annually in the area.
Most pangolins were caught during general hunting trips, and were caught primarily for meat (98%).
The study also found about 71% of pangolins were consumed by hunters themselves, and the remainder traded locally as food.
Pangolin meat is a delicacy in parts of Nigeria, often procured for pregnant women in the belief that it helps produce strong babies.
The three major African pangolin species were rated as the most palatable of all available meats, with average scores of almost nine out of ten, and the giant pangolin considered the topmost appetising meat in the region.
While the study focused on Nigeria, researchers suspect this data is applicable in Cameroon and Gabon, and maybe in other African countries as well.
The research was published in the Nature Ecology & Evolution journal.
Picture of a Giant Pangolin, considered the topmost appetising meat in the West Africa, World Land Trust.