The most trafficked mammal in the world is about to disappear

Singapore confiscated the most pangolin scales until now, in sign that the animal in danger is on the verge of extinction by hunting.

They were seized around 26 tons of scales worth US $ 77 million, more than is typically captured in the world each year and the potential outcome of thesesinatos of more than 40 000 animals in danger of extinction.

Inspectors found a container containing 12.9 tons of pangolin flakes packed in 230 marked bags "Frozen beef" April 3, according to a joint statement from the National Parks Council and Singapore Customs. Five days later, a cargo containing 12.7 tons of scales was seized from an alleged container laden with cbadia seed.

Prior to the recent seizures, Singapore had captured only a total of 440 kilograms of mammal scales in 2015 and 2016.

The mbadive increase, more than two and a half years after signing by a treaty of 180 countries aimed at ending any lawful trade in pangolins and protecting the species from extinction, indicates risks croissants for the shy and nocturnal animal present in Asia and Africa. The most trafficked mammal in the world is hunted for its meat, considered a delicacy in countries such as China and Vietnam. The body parts of the animal are used in traditional remedies and traditional remedies, according to the World Wildlife Fund, based in Washington DC.

"It is estimated that an average of 20 tons of scales were smuggled each year," said Crawford Allan, senior director of TRAFFIC, Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network jointly created by the WWF and the International Union for Conservation. of nature. "Already in 2019, we have seen almost double what has been detected and seized, and these are just detected shipments."

In Asia, poaching has decimated the number of pangolins, the only mammals fully covered with scales. The two shipments captured in Singapore were heading to Vietnam from Nigeria. China, followed by Vietnam, is the biggest consumer of pangolins and their parts, according to Allan.