Record Singapore bust puts scrutiny on overlooked pangolin (Update) - Phys.org
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Record Singapore bust puts scrutiny on
overlooked pangolin (Update)
10 April 2019, by Annabelle Liang
and Checkpoints Authority said in a statement
Wednesday that the cargo was declared as cassia
seeds. Both shipments were en route from Nigeria
to Vietnam.
"The sheer size of these two latest seizures is
unprecedented and will undoubtedly prove a major
setback to the traffickers concerned," said Richard
Thomas of monitoring network Traffic.
He warned that the seizures themselves won't put
the traffickers out of business. "The quantities of
pangolins involved point to sourcing, processing
and distribution on an industrial scale," Thomas
said.
In this Aug. 31, 2017, file photo, one of over 100
pangolins and 450 kg (992 lb.) of pangolin scales seized The pangolin is said to be the most widely trafficked
buy the Thailand customs, estimated to be worth over mammal in the world, and its scales are in high
2.5 million baht (USD $75,278), are displayed during a
demand in Asia for use in traditional Chinese
press conference at the Customs Department
headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. Singapore has
medicine. The scales are made of keratin, the
seized a total of 25 tons of pangolin scales belonging to same material in human fingernails. Their meat is
tens of thousands of endangered mammals in two busts also considered a delicacy in China and other
in less than a week. The scales, which were en route Asian countries.
from Nigeria to Vietnam, were found in 474 bags in a
shipping container on Monday. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit,
File)
Singapore has seized more than 28 tons of
pangolin scales belonging to around 38,000 of the
endangered mammals over the past week, a global
record that spurred calls for more protection for
pangolins, which are used in traditional medicine.
The scales, which were found in shipping
containers, have been linked to four species of
pangolins native to Africa.
Officials found a record 14.2 tons of the scales In this Thursday, June 19, 2014, file photo, a pangolin
hidden among packets of frozen beef on April 3. carries its baby at a Bali zoo in Bali, Indonesia.
Five days later, they found 14 more tons in 474 Singapore has seized more than 25 tons of pangolin
bags in another container. The National Parks scales belonging to tens of thousands of endangered
Board, Singapore Customs and the Immigration animals in two busts over the past week, a global record
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for such seizures. The pangolin scales are in high site in Singapore. Singapore has seized more than 25
demand in Asia for use in traditional Chinese medicine. tons of pangolin scales belonging to tens of thousands of
(AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File) the endangered mammals in two busts over the past
week, a global record for such seizures. (National Parks
Board via AP)
Wildlife groups are concerned that the busts point
to a jump in poaching of pangolins.
"The World Health Organization recently endorsed
traditional medicine and the industry appears keen
to grow this market, outside of China, Vietnam and
beyond," said Neil D'Cruze, the global wildlife
adviser at the World Animal Protection. "This is an
alarming move for some wildlife species such as
pangolins, as it poses a real conservation and
animal welfare threat."
Pangolins are an extremely lucrative catch, he said.
In rural communities where they're hunted,
poachers can make up to the equivalent of a full
year's salary from catching just one pangolin.
Feeding "the insatiable demand" are middlemen
traffickers who also profit from the trade that's
In this April 9, 2019, photo released by the National
reaching more remote communities to hunt the
Parks Board, some of the 12 tons of pangolin scales
animal, he added. worth around US$38.1 million are displayed in an
undisclosed site in Singapore. Singapore has seized
Paul Thomson, an official at the Pangolin Specialist more than 25 tons of pangolin scales belonging to tens of
Group, said it looks like the pangolin poaching has thousands of the endangered mammals in two busts over
increased but figures were difficult to ascertain. the past week, a global record for such seizures.
(National Parks Board via AP)
In this April 9, 2019, photo released by the National
Parks Board, over 12 tons of pangolin scales worth
around US$38.1 million are displayed in an undisclosed In this April 9, 2019, photo released by the National
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Parks Board, over 12 tons of pangolin scales worth ivory tusks and 8.3 tons of pangolin scales
around US$38.1 million are displayed in an undisclosed belonging to as many as 13,000 pangolins. The
site in Singapore. Singapore has seized more than 25 shipment, which originated in Nigeria, was bound
tons of pangolin scales belonging to tens of thousands of
for Vietnam.
the endangered mammals in two busts over the past
week, a global record for such seizures. (National Parks
Board via AP) Singapore made two markedly smaller pangolin
scale busts in 2015 and 2016 amounting to 440
kilograms (970 pounds). Those found to have
illegally imported, exported or re-exported wildlife,
including their parts, face a maximum punishment
of two years in prison and a fine of 500,000
Singapore dollars ($367,000).
"There has never been a more opportune moment
for full and thorough international investigations and
collaborations to take place to find out who has
perpetrated these criminal acts and bring those
behind them to face justice," Thomas said.
© 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
In this April 9, 2019, photo released by the National
Parks Board, some of the 12 tons of pangolin scales
worth around US$38.1 million are displayed in an
undisclosed site in Singapore. Singapore has seized
more than 25 tons of pangolin scales belonging to tens of
thousands of the endangered mammals in two busts over
the past week, a global record for such seizures.
(National Parks Board via AP)
"The illegal trade in pangolin parts has been going
on for decades. However, pangolins have typically
been overlooked in terms of concerted
conservation attention and action," Thomson told
The Associated Press. "This is changing thanks to
growing awareness of pangolins. And this
awareness has partly been driven by the high
volumes of trafficking seen today."
In February, Malaysian officials seized 30 tons of
pangolin and pangolin products. This included live
and frozen pangolins and 361 kilograms (795
pounds) of their scales.
Earlier that month, Hong Kong said it had seized
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APA citation: Record Singapore bust puts scrutiny on overlooked pangolin (Update) (2019, April 10)
retrieved 17 April 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-04-singapore-seizes-pangolin-scales-week.html
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