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Wildlife Crime
Pangolin scales
Research 2020
Wildlife Crime
Pangolin scales
2020
UNITED NATIONS
New York, 2020This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational
or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided
acknowledgement of the source is made.
Suggested citation: UNODC, Wildlife Crime: Pangolin scales, 2020.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Comments on the report are welcome and can be sent to: RAB@unodc.org
Acknowledgements
Wildlife Crime: Pangolin scales report was prepared by the UNODC Crime Research
Section under the supervision of Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director of the Division
for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs and Angela Me, Chief of the Research and
Trend Analysis Branch.
Core team
Angela Me, Kristiina Kangaspunta, Ted Leggett and Julie Viollaz
World WISE team
Enrico Bisogno, Diana Camerini, Francesca Rosa and Lisa Weijler
Editing
Raggie Johansen
Graphic design, layout and mapping
Suzanne Kunnen, Kristina Kuttnig and Maria Moser
The support provided by the UNODC Global Programme for Combating Wildlife and
Forest Crime is gratefully acknowledged: Jorge Eduardo Rios, Giovanni Broussard and
Jenna Dawson-Faber.
The preparation of this report benefitted from the financial contributions of the Bureau of
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, US Department of State.
Disclamer
The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNODC,
Member States or contributory organizations, and nor does it imply any endorsement.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not
imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United
Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authori-
ties, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
This publication has not been formally edited.
Photos by Creative Commons Zero
2Preface
As I write this I, like many millions of wet markets, pet markets and other Crime Report in 2016, providing a
people around the world, am working facilities, in close proximity with one much-needed global overview and anal-
from home, self-isolating to help stop another and with humans, exponen- ysis of the geographic scope and nature
the spread of the global COVID-19 tially increasing the risk of transmission of the problem.
pandemic. The number of COVID-19 of viruses and other pathogens.
This research has been further com-
cases worldwide has now exceeded two
It has become all too clear that wild- plemented by work done through our
million, and more than 145,000 people
life crime is a threat not only to the Global Programme for Combating
have already lost their lives to the virus.
environment and biodiversity, but to Wildlife and Forest Crime. Drawing
We are far from knowing the full impact human health, economic development on UNODC’s role as guardian to the
of this unprecedented threat. Standing and security. The United Nations Office United Nations Convention against
in solidarity, we must do everything we on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will Transnational Organized Crime and
can to address the immense and imme- publish the second edition of the World the United Nations Convention
diate suffering caused by COVID-19. Wildlife Crime Report in June. We against Corruption, the Global Pro-
In overcoming this crisis, we must are releasing the chapter on pangolins gramme provides both policy guidance
ensure that hardships are not com- ahead of the full report to draw atten- and technical assistance to requesting
pounded by its aftermath, especially tion to these risks. countries, working with the wildlife
for the most vulnerable among us. As law enforcement community and the
Pangolins harbour a wide variety of
we recover, we can take its lessons to criminal justice system to prevent and
coronaviruses, some of which share
heart and do all we can to prevent the stop wildlife crime, illegal logging and
genetic similarities to the virus that
next global pandemic. related crimes.
caused COVID-19. These shy mam-
The outbreak of COVID-19 has been mals do not pose any immediate threat In response to the COVID-19 out-
linked to a coronavirus originating in to human health if left in their ecosys- break, some countries have already
wild bats that jumped to humans via an tem. But when pangolins are poached taken additional welcome steps to
intermediary, with pangolins - scaly ant- from their natural habitat, butchered address the trafficking of wildlife. It is
eaters living in Asia and Africa - among and sold illegally, a potential health crucial that these measures are sustained
the likely suspects. The continuing hazard is brought close to home. and effectively enforced. The second
debate in the scientific community sug- edition of the UNODC World Wildlife
Pangolins remain the most trafficked
gests that wet markets trading in wild Crime Report and the UNODC Global
mammal in the world despite the inter-
meat served as a possible ground zero Programme can support further action.
national ban on the trade of all pangolin
for the virus.
species since January 2017. One oper- Life on our planet is interconnected.
According to the United Nations ation last April seized 25 tonnes of Human society has continuously
Environment Programme, 70 percent African pangolin scales - representing an encroached upon the natural world,
of all emerging infectious diseases are estimated 50,000 dead pangolins - with upsetting a fragile balance. We must
zoonotic, originating from the transfer a market value of some seven million act to prevent and combat the reck-
from animals to humans. The World dollars. Between 2014 and 2018, the less, illegal exploitation of natural
Health Organization, in response to equivalent of 370,000 pangolins were resources to stop such crimes from
COVID-19, has highlighted the impor- seized globally. We do not know how further endangering ecosystems, live-
tance of enforcing bans on the sale of many African pangolins are left in the lihoods and the health of billions of
wildlife for food, as well as food safety wild. people, by strengthening international
and hygiene regulations. cooperation, information sharing and
Conservation of an endangered
threat assessment; improving legis-
However, governments face serious animal potentially tied to the spread of
lation; enhancing enforcement and
challenges in enforcing such controls COVID-19 is not an obvious priority
investigation techniques; building bor-
as organized criminal groups traffick- when the international community is
ders and customs capacities; promoting
ing wildlife products have infiltrated rightfully focused on overcoming the
alternative livelihoods; and increasing
legitimate markets in East Asia, South- many grave and urgent problems posed
community and public awareness.
east Asia and other parts of the world. by the pandemic. Nevertheless, stop-
To stop the transmission of zoonotic ping the illegal trade in pangolins and
diseases in future, the international other wildlife species is a critical step
community needs to stop the illegal not just to protect biodiversity and the
wildlife trade. rule of law in line with the Sustainable
Development Goals, but to help pre-
Trafficked wild species - pangolins, Ghada Waly
vent future public health emergencies.
birds, turtles, tigers, bears and many Director-General/Executive Director
more – and the resulting products In recent years, we have made a great
United Nations
offered for human consumption, by deal of progress in advancing awareness
Office on Drugs and Crime
definition, escape any hygiene or san- of wildlife trafficking as a serious trans-
itary control. Animals from around national organized crime. UNODC April 2020
the world are crammed into cages in published the first-ever World Wildlife
34
WILDLIFE CRIME:
PANGOLIN SCALES1
Map 1 Main trafficking flows and reported origins/destinations of
seized
Main trafficking pangolin
flows scales
and reported (2007-2018)of seized pangolin scales (2007-2018)
origins/destinations
Main trafficking flows based
on adjusted seizures
High volume flow
Low volume flow
Live equivalent (K Heads) - seizures
200
150 Source of shipment
100
50
25 Transit or destination of shipmentPANGOLIN SCALES
Today, demand for pangolins in Asia Fig. 2 Shares of whole pangolin live equivalents
is being supplied by pangolins from
Africa. In both regions, pangolins are
seized globally by product type, 2007-2018
killed for their meat5 and their scales, 100%
which have been used medicinally.6
Pangolin products have been used 80%
in traditional Chinese medicine for
thousands of years to treat a wide 60%
range of ailments. The scales are said
to promote blood circulation and 40%
increase lactation in pregnant women,
while the meat is used as a tonic.7 20%
They are also used as medicine in
Africa. In Nigeria, for example, pan- 0%
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
golin parts are used to treat a wide
range of physical and psychological
conditions.8 Bodies Live Scales
All eight species of pangolins are
believed to be in decline,9 but since
exact population counts are unavail- Source: World WISE.
able, it is difficult to determine the
conservation impact of the illegal
Fig. 3 Kilograms of pangolin scales legally traded,
trade.10 The sheer volume of seizures, 2013-2017 (importer reported quantities)
though, suggests unsustainable har- 14000
vesting, a hypothesis corroborated by
hunters interviewed by UNODC in 12000
Uganda and Cameroon in 2018, who
10000
reported that pangolins are becoming
kilograms of scales
harder to find.11 8000
Since 2014, there has been a 10-fold 6000
increase in the number of whole
pangolin equivalents seized globally. 4000
The inclusion of all pangolin species
in Appendix I in 2016 likely had 2000
some role in this trend, especially
0
as it increased awareness, but there 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
are several reasons why the listing is
unlikely to be solely responsible for Burundi DRC Congo Rep. Togo Uganda
the increase:
Source: CITES Trade Database.
- -- The increase started in 2015,
two years before the listing took
effect. seizures have involved pangolin scales Most of the large African scale ship-
- -- The size of individual seizures has sourced from Africa. Prior to 2009, ments originated in West and Central
increased, alongside the increase the international trade involved Africa,13 where three out of the four
in overall seizure quantity. mostly pangolin meat and scales, African pangolin species are found.14
sourced in Asia (Figure 2).12 The rea- Four pangolin species are also found
- -- Before the Appendix I listing, the
in Southeast, South and East Asia.
WORLD WILDLIFE CRIME REPORT 2020
amount of pangolins seized was sons for the shift to African sources is
Most of the trade for all species is
much larger than the legal trade, unclear, but may be due to declining
destined for East and Southeast Asian
implying that the industries Asian populations. There have been
countries.15 Before 2016, the largest
where pangolins are used have very few seizures of pangolin meat seizures intercepted amounted to less
long drawn on illegal sources. from Africa. The reasons for this are than 10,000 live pangolin equivalents.
Sizable shipments of whole (often also unclear, but almost all the World In 2019, all the three major seizures
live) pangolins have been seized in WISE pangolin seizures coming from made by Singapore were equivalent to
Asia, but most of the largest recent Africa have been comprised of scales. more than twice that number.
6In 2000, CITES Parties adopted a over the past decade (Figure 3). It is Sourcing
zero-export quota for wild-caught therefore unlikely that leakage from
Asian pangolins traded for primarily declared government stockpiles con- In 2000, zero export quotas were
commercial purposes. The legal trade tributes significantly to the illegal established for Asian pangolin spe-
in African pangolin species was rare trade; most sourcing is likely coming cies whose populations were seriously
until about 2014.16 Between 2013 from the wild and most from Afri- depleted from the skin and meat
to 2017 (when all pangolin species can source countries, and not from trade.25 These zero quotas may have
were up-listed to Appendix I), the stockpiles. contributed to the decline in the skin
amount of pangolin scales legally trade,26 but despite population deple-
The magnitude of the illegal trade - tion, sourcing from Southeast Asia
imported went from almost zero to based on seizure records - suggests
nearly 13 tons, with four countries (primarily from Indonesia, Malaysia
that this wild sourcing is unsustaina- and Thailand) continued in large
being responsible for the bulk of the ble. Breeding of pangolins in captivity
shipments: Burundi, the Democratic quantities until 2013, at which point
at commercial scale is currently not it dropped off significantly.
Republic of the Congo (DRC), Congo possible. Highly specialized diets
(Brazzaville) and Uganda (Figure 3). combined with extreme sensitivity Based on seizure data, it appears that,
China was the importer of 99 per cent to capture-induced stress mean that starting in 2013, the source of seized
of this volume. pangolins fare poorly in captivity. pangolins shifted to the African con-
Demand for pangolin meat persists, Pangolins generally give birth to tinent, primarily to West and Central
but it appears to be satisfied regionally. one cub at a time21 with gestation Africa. Seizures were made first on
For example, Malaysian authorities periods that range from about 65 to shipments coming from Cameroon,
raided two high-volume pangolin 370 days.22 Only a few births have then Nigeria, and then (in 2016)
meat facilities in February 2019, been reported in captivity, with high to the Democratic Republic of the
confiscating 29.8 tons of pangolins infant mortality rates.23 At present, Congo (Figure 4). Other source coun-
in the form of live and frozen animals, sourcing from captive-bred popula- tries mentioned by pangolin traders
including frozen meat.17 Interconti- tions does not seem to be possible to during fieldwork include the Central
nental meat seizures, though, remain meet demand and/or replace the wild African Republic, Congo, Gabon and
rare, and the short range of trafficking population of pangolins harvested by Uganda. Recent large seizures in Côte
may be one reason why meat seizures poachers. d’Ivoire involve Guinea and Liberia as
are not detected at the same level as additional source countries for traf-
Given that the scales from one pan-
scale seizures in recent years. Based ficked pangolins.27
golin weigh anywhere between 0.36
on World WISE data, meat seizures to 3.60 kg,24 multi-ton seizures of Nigeria, Uganda and the Demo-
represented 15 per cent of pangolin scales represent far larger numbers of cratic Republic of the Congo act as
seizures in 2015, compared to only pangolins killed than meat shipments transit countries and logistical hubs
1-2 per cent of pangolin seizures from of a similar weight. Estimates of how for pangolin and wildlife traffick-
2016 to 2018. There were 4,355 live many pangolins have been illegally ing more generally. Illegal pangolin
pangolin equivalents’ worth of meat traded in recent years are difficult to trade in Nigeria seems to have grown
seized in 2018, out of 187,256 live calculate given that: significantly in recent years, and the
pangolin equivalents seized overall country was the reported provenance
- -- seizures represent only a small
that year.18 of at least 51 tons of pangolin scales
fraction of the animals killed;
There is some debate as to how much seized in 2019 (Figure 5)
- -- size and weight of scales vary
of the large increase in scale traffick- between species; and Based on UNODC fieldwork in
ing could be coming from stockpiles Cameroon and Uganda in 2018, it
that existed prior to pangolins’ CITES - -- incomplete seizure records that
appears that the initial hunting of
Appendix I listing, and therefore, make it difficult to know what pangolins for the trade is done by
how much poaching is taking place. species was seized. local community members. Wealth-
Nineteen countries have declared According to pangolin hunters and ier local traders and intermediaries
pangolin scale stockpiles to CITES.19 traders interviewed by UNODC then consolidate their catch into
China reports regularly releasing these in Cameroon and Uganda, giant bulk batches and transport them to
stockpiled scales for domestic use by pangolins are relatively rare. If each urban centres where they are traf-
designated hospitals and manufactur- pangolin killed for illegal trade in ficked onward by Asian expatriates.28
ers of patented Chinese medicines.20 Africa produced an average of 500 In some locations, it is not unusual
The volume of declared stockpiles in grams of scales, the 185 tons of scales for a large number of members of a
source and destination countries is far seized between 2014 and 2018 would community to be involved in hunting
smaller than the tens of thousands of represent about 370,000 pangolin pangolins, often in addition to their
whole pangolin equivalents seized equivalents. main job as farmers.29 As a result,
7PANGOLIN SCALES
Fig. 4 Shares of global pangolin scale seizures by reported the sun in centralized ‘drying camps’
set up by hunters in the forest. Some
source of shipment, 2015-2018
hunters reported keeping the meat
100% to eat. In Cameroon, scales were
also recovered from open bushmeat
80% markets in the region or from res-
taurants selling the meat. According
60% to UNODC fieldwork, most people
seem to understand that pangolins can
40% be sold for profit, which encourages
local hunters to catch them whenever
20%
possible. Most hunters and even trad-
ers interviewed knew very little about
the animal itself and had radically dif-
0%
ferent and often misguided ideas of
2015
2016
2017
2018
what consumers used the animals for,
Nigeria Democratic Republic of the Congo
including making bullet-proof vests
Cameroon Ghana
out of their scales. Local traders and
Malaysia, Viet Nam and Indonesia Domestic intermediaries consolidate scales until
Other at least 10 kg are ready for transit to
urban centres. These operators – some
Source: World WISE. of whom are women - tend to be local
residents. They are in contact with
international traffickers, who some-
Fig. 5 Pangolin scale shipments involving Nigeria as a source times pay for their services by wire
or destination, 2015-2019 (tons) transfer.
60 The first buyers are often small
51 business owners, local authorities
50 or transportation workers that have
metric tons of pangolin scales
enough cash to buy stock from local
40 hunters and pay for transit to urban
areas. In fieldwork in Cameroon and
30 27 Uganda, it was reported that Con-
golese and Nigerian citizens act as
20 traders and intermediaries.31 In the
urban areas, the goods are sold to
8 9 international traffickers, primarily
10
2 Chinese, but also some Nigerians and
0 Vietnamese.32
International traffickers tend to be
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
individuals with enough wealth and
Source: World WISE and CITES. political connections to ensure pro-
tection from the authorities. These
include high-level government offi-
there are large numbers of suppliers making anywhere from US$ 8 to
cials and wealthy business people but
dispersed throughout rural areas. US$ 13 for a small live pangolin and
can also be foreign workers based in
These suppliers seem to be primarily US$ 25 to US$ 30 for a large one. In
the country for development projects.
part-timers. Uganda, hunters report being able to
The number of actors involved in the
WORLD WILDLIFE CRIME REPORT 2020
Entering the illicit trade chain is easy. catch anywhere from one to 20 pan-
trafficking from source to destination
Without the need for the heavy guns golins per day.30
ranges from five to more than 15
and specialized equipment required Hunters in Uganda track the animals people, with prices paid to each actor
for big game hunting, anyone can and set traps while hunters in Came- increasing the closer one gets to the
participate. UNODC fieldwork in roon use wire traps or hunting dogs. consumer. For example, in Uganda,
Cameroon found that prospective Pangolins, once dead, are immersed traders who consolidate scales are paid
new entrants only need supplies in hot water or fire and descaled with quadruple the price per kilogram than
costing US$3 to US$5, with hunters a knife. The scales are then dried in that paid to the hunters.
8Table 1 Actors involved in pangolin scale trafficking and their costs and income (Uganda)
HUNTER TRADER INTERMEDIARY TRAFFICKER
US$ 2.5 - 9/kg scales US$ 135 commission per
US$ 13-40/kg scales
Income
US$ 4 -14 per live delivery (10 -16 sacks, No data available
(consolidate to 10 kg)
pangolin 50 kg each)
Storage: US$ 40 per month
Supplies: US$ 3 to 5
Car to city: US$ 100-134
Costs
per hunter (or per No data available No data available
Driver: US$ 27
pangolin?)
Bribes: US$ 27 -100
Traders order pangolin scales by the declared as wood chips or other com- show that Nigeria is the primary point
kilo, with a preference for the large modities. of export of pangolin shipments,
scales from giant pangolins, Manis while Viet Nam has emerged as the
Traders reported that pangolin traf-
gigantea, which hunters report primary destination (Table 2). In
fickers often use the same routes to
are harder to find. Several hunters October 2019, the Chinese govern-
export and import pangolin scales
described traders seeking them out ment announced having seized 23
as they do ivory.39 A third of hunters
and requesting they switch to hunt- tons of pangolin scales in China in a
and traders interviewed in Uganda
ing pangolin rather than other species. series of operations. These shipments
reported that traffickers take advan-
Table 1 provides an overview of the were coming from Nigeria via the
tage of the weak border controls
actors involved in the trafficking of Republic of Korea.42
and security challenges in northern
pangolin scales from source to the Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Ivory traffickers appear to be involved
international trafficker in major urban Congo and South Sudan to offload in the pangolin scale trade, often
centres. It includes associated costs the scales they collected, sometimes transporting shipments of ivory and
along the way, where known, using concealing themselves as impover- pangolin specimens together. Recent
data collected through field interviews ished locals to avoid detection at large seizures of pangolin scales are
in Uganda as an example.33 known checkpoints.40 Traders and often mixed shipments of both pan-
traffickers also store stockpiles of golin scales and ivory.
Trafficking scales in countries where the rule
The interviewed poachers also seem
of law is weaker and wildlife crime
Trafficking is done by sea, air and to be of the view that authorities
enforcement limited before moving
land, and parcel post is also some- consider crimes associated with pan-
the scales for immediate sale to buyers
times used. Shipments may not be golins as less serious than other forms
in more high-risk locations.
well concealed, but they have been of poaching, for example elephant
found under frozen meat and ice,34 The development of logging opera- poaching. Fear of enforcement action
hidden in logs using candle wax35 and tions in previously wild areas, bringing did not appear to play much of a role
stuffed inside steel barrels of other with it an influx of people and infra- in their decision-making.
goods.36 Large illegal consignments of structure like roads, facilitates hunters’
Currently, the market for ivory
pangolin scales in shipping containers access to wild pangolin populations,
appears to be in decline, while,
are either misdeclared or concealed making areas near logging operations
according to interviews with hunt-
under ‘cover loads’ such as plastic particularly vulnerable to pangolin
ers in Cameroon and Uganda,
waste. International seizures have poaching. In fact, two-thirds of the
pangolin prices have been going up
shown that traffickers are using the interviewees in Cameroon noted
since 2017.43 UNODC fieldwork in
same techniques repeatedly, includ- that traders often transport scales to
Cameroon and Uganda suggests that
ing regular air shipments of relatively larger cities on logging trucks, with
some ivory traders may be entering
small amounts of scales. For example, the scales concealed as wood chips
the pangolin scale trade in response
authorities in the Netherlands have or foodstuffs.41 A third of the traders
to lower risk. For example, poachers
repeatedly seized similarly packaged interviewed in Uganda mentioned
interviewed in Uganda reported that
consignments of about 20 kg of scales using motorbikes for local transport,
while they used coded language to
from Nigeria in parcel post. Malaysia although several choose “fancier”
discuss transactions involving ivory
also seized a series of similarly packed vehicles that belong to official organ-
and rhino horn over the phone, they
izations when possible to limit the
shipments in air cargo from Ghana did not feel the need to take such
chances that they will be searched.
in 2017.37 Some are even smuggled measures when trading in pangolin
in luggage38 and sent via parcel post Very large individual seizures in 2019 products and openly discussed the
9PANGOLIN SCALES
Table 2 Notable pangolin seizures in 2019
VOLUME OF PANGOLIN SCALES REPORTED SEIZING REPORTED
DATE SEIZED (TONS) ORIGIN COUNTRY DESTINATION
January 1.4 (with 100 kg ivory) Nigeria Viet Nam –
China (Hong
January 8.3 (with 2.1 tons ivory) Nigeria Viet Nam
Kong SAR)
March 8.3 Nigeria Viet Nam –
April 12.9 (with 175 kg ivory) Nigeria Singapore Viet Nam
April 12.8 Nigeria Singapore Viet Nam
Democratic Republic
April 4 (with 3.4 tons ivory) Viet Nam –
of the Congo
May 5.3 Nigeria Viet Nam –
Democratic Republic
July 11.9 (with 8.8 tons ivory) Singapore Viet Nam
of the Congo
Democratic Republic
July 1.2 Turkey –
of the Congo
October 1.5 – Nigeria Malaysia
December 1.7 (with 330 kg ivory) Nigeria Viet Nam –
Source: CITES.
number of kilos of pangolin scales of wildlife consumption for food and cities (Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai
that they wanted to buy or sell. If as ingredients for traditional medi- Phong, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
those involved in the ivory trade cine.45 Consumer surveys in 2018 of City) found similar results and con-
are now selling pangolin scales, this 1,800 people living in Chinese cities sumer profiles for pangolin scales and
would imply that the pangolin trade with active markets for wildlife prod- powder.49 About 60 per cent of the
can now build on the supply chain ucts (Beijing, Guangzhou, Harbin, sampled buyers who bought pangolin
of the well-established ivory market. Kunming, Nanning and Shanghai,) products in the last 12 months and
support the increased demand argu- 54 per cent of all buyers of pango-
Demand ment, especially for scales.46 The lin products surveyed indicated that
number of people who reported they they would purchase these again,
Based on seizures, most pangolin
had bought pangolin products in the suggesting a strong continuing con-
scales are destined for traditional med-
last 12 months increased by 12 per sumer demand.50 In addition, 52 per
icine use in China, followed by other
cent from previous studies in both cent of these buyers, who mostly buy
Southeast Asian countries. Some 71
Beijing and Shanghai and remained from private sellers, reported making
per cent of seizures of whole pangolin
stable in Kunming and Nanning an unplanned purchase of pangolin
equivalents recorded in World WISE
while decreasing only slightly in products influenced by the seller’s rec-
between 2007 and 2018, where the
destination was known, were destined Guangzhou and Harbin (4 and 3 ommendation. This suggests that sales
for China, with 19 per cent bound for per cent, respectively). Some 68 per pressure drives about half of consumer
Viet Nam (Figure 6). As noted above, cent of that group reported that they purchases.
this routing seems to have changed intended to rebuy pangolin products
dramatically in 2019, where all the in the future, suggesting that there is
major seizures were destined for Viet a stable base of buyers47 regardless of
WORLD WILDLIFE CRIME REPORT 2020
Nam. campaigns against the practice. The
government announcement in August
In China, the cities of Fangchengang,
2019 that pangolin products would
Guangzhou and Kunming are key
no longer be covered by China’s state
nodes for pangolin trafficking accord-
insurance funds could reduce pur-
ing to a 2016 study of 206 Chinese
chases overall.48
seizures.44 In a survey of five major
Chinese cities in 2012, Guangzhou A 2018 survey of 1,500 wildlife prod-
residents reported the highest rates uct consumers in key Vietnamese
10Fig. 6 Destination of seizures in whole pangolin
equivalents*, 2007-2018
DRC
0.6%
Nigeria
Domestic 0.5%
1.8% Malaysia excluding unknown
0.7%
Lao PDR
2.2% Other Malaysia DRC
1.6% 1.0% 0.9% Nigeria
0.7%
Viet Nam Domestic
13.3% 2.5% Other
2.3%
Lao PDR
3.1%
China Viet Nam
50.4%
Unknown 18.7%
28.9%
China
Source: World WISE. 70.9%
* The figure refers to seizures of live
pangolins, dead pangolins as well as
pangolin scales.
Endnotes
1 This article is part of the forthcoming is adopted for the cases originating from tional Organized Crime Threat Assessment,
UNODC World Wildlife Crime Report African countries (UNODC Fieldwork). 2018.
2020 to be published in June 2020. In cases of unknown origin, the conversion 14 The fourth species, Temmick’s ground
2 Challender, D. W. S., Waterman, C. and factor adopted is the average of the above pangolin, is found primarily in East and
Baillie, J. E. M., Scaling up pangolin con- conversion factors, that is 430 grams. Southern Africa. IUCN SSC Pangolin
servation, IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist These estimates should be regarded as Specialist Group, The status, trade, and con-
Group Conservation Action Plan, Zoologi- liberal when taken on an annual basis, but servation of pangolins (Manis spp.), Informa-
cal Society of London, 2014. consistent across time. tion document for the 17th meeting of the
3 In 1975, all four Asian pangolins species, 5 Krishnasamy, K. and Shepherd, C.R., ‘Sei- conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP17
including M. crassicaudata, M. culionensis, zures of African pangolin scales in Malaysia Inf.59), CITES, 2016.
M. javanica and M. pentadactyla were in 2017’, TRAFFIC Bulletin, 29(2), 52-55, 15 See, for example, Annex 1 of Challender,
included in CITES Appendix II and one 2017. D. and Waterman, C., Implementation of
African species (M. temminckii ) was listed 6 Challender, Waterman and Baillie 2014, CITES Decisions 17.239b) and 17.240 on
in Appendix I. In 1995, all species of pan- op. cit. pangolins (Manis spp.), IUCN, 2017.
golins (including the African species) were 7 Hua, L. et al., ‘Captive breeding of pango- 16 UNODC, West and Central Africa Transna-
included in Appendix II under the species lins: Current status, problems, and future tional Organized Crime Threat Assessment,
listing Manis spp. In 2000, there was a prospects’, ZooKeys, 507, 99-114, 2015. 2018.
proposal to transfer M. crassicaudata, M.
javanica and M. pentadactyla to Appendix 8 Soewu, D.A. and Ayodele I.A., ‘Utilisation 17 Papachristou, L., ‘TRAFFIC: 30 Tonnes
I. However, the proposal was not accepted, of pangolin (Manis sps) in traditional of Rare Pangolin Meat Seized in Malaysia’,
noting that the species were at that time Yorubic medicine in Ijebu Province, Ogun Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting
under the Review of Significant Trade pro- State, Nigeria’, Journal of Ethnobiology & Project, 15 February 2019.
cess. Following this process, a zero annual Ethnomedicine, 5, 39, 2009; Soewu, D.A. 18 World WISE. See note 4 above for conver-
export quota for specimens removed from & Adekanola, T.A., ‘Traditional-medical sion factors.
the wild and traded for primarily commer- knowledge and perception of pangolins
(Manis sps) among the Awori People, 19 In response to Notifications to the Parties
cial purposes was established for all Asian No. 2017/035 and 2014/059 , as included
pangolin species. In 2016, all eight species Southwestern Nigeria’, Journal of Ethnobiol-
ogy & Ethnomedicine, 7, 25-36, 2011. in table 13 in Annex 1 of Challender,
(Asian and African) were transferred to D. and Waterman, C., Implementation of
Appendix I. 9 Challender, Waterman and Baillie 2014, CITES Decisions 17.239b) and 17.240 on
4 The figure refers to seizures of pangolin op. cit. pangolins (Manis spp.), IUCN, 2017.
bodies, scales, meat, trophies as well as 10 CITES SC69 Doc 57; IUCN, The IUCN 20 Challender, D. and Waterman, C., Imple-
live pangolins. For conversion factors, see red list of threatened species, Version 2019-2, mentation of CITES Decisions 17.239b) and
Annex 1 of Challender, D. and Waterman, see: http://www.iucnredlist.org, accessed on 17.240 on pangolins (Manis spp.), IUCN,
C., Implementation of CITES Decisions 30 August 2019. 2017.
17.239b) and 17.240 on pangolins (Manis 11 UNODC fieldwork in 2018, see Methodo-
spp.)., Cambridge: IUCN, 2017. Where 21 Hua, L. et al. (2015).
logical Annex for details.
the species is not specified in the seizures, 22 This range is very approximate and debated
the conversion factor of 360 grams of scale 12 Annex 1 of Challender, D. and Waterman, by contradicting studies. Research is still
per pangolin (recommended by Challender C., Implementation of CITES Decisions ongoing to get more exact figures. See, f.ex.
and Waterman) is adopted for cases where 17.239b) and 17.240 on pangolins (Manis Hua et al. 2015, op. cit.; Chin, S.C. et al.,
Asian countries are reported as origin, spp.)., IUCN, 2017. ‘Monitoring the gestation period of rescued
whereas the conversion factor of 500 grams 13 UNODC, West and Central Africa Transna- Formosan pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)
11PANGOLIN SCALES
with progesterone radioimmunoassay’, Zoo 32 UNODC fieldwork. 43 UNODC fieldwork in 2018.
Biology, 31, 479-489, 2011;Yang, C.W. 33 Note that prices for 1 kg of pangolin scales 44 Cheng, W., Xing, S. and Bonebrake, T. C.,
et al., ‘History and dietary husbandry of are on the low side in Uganda with hunters ‘Recent pangolin seizures in China reveal
pangolins in captivity’, Zoo Biology, 26, in Cameroon reporting being paid any- priority areas for intervention’. Conserva-
223–230, 2007. where from US$6 to 23 per kilo (with the tion Letters, 10(6), 757-764, 2017.
23 Hua et al. 2015, op. cit.; World Associ- highest prices near major cities). 45 Zhang, L. and Yin, F., ‘Wildlife consump-
ation of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), 34 Osborne, S., ‘Record haul of pangolin tion and conservation awareness in China:
WAZA statement in response to the pangolin scales seized along with hundreds of ivory a long way to go’, Biodiversity and Conser-
trade crisis, September 20, 2016. tusks in Hong Kong’, The Independent, 2 vation, 23, 2371-2381, 2014.
24 Challender and Waterman 2017, op cit.; February 2019. 46 De Guzman, E., ‘Research study on con-
Zhou, Z.M. et al., ‘Allometry of scales in 35 Delegation of the European Union to the sumer demand for elephant, pangolin,
Chinese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla) and African Union, ‘3.2 tons of ivory and 423 rhino and tiger parts and products in
Malayan pangolins (Manis javanica) and Kg of pangolin scales seized thanks to China’, USAID Wildlife Asia, 2018.
application on judicial expertise’, Zoological support of EU Wildlife Conservation pro-
Research, 33, 271-275, 2012; Challender, 47 Primarily males in their 30s and early 40s
gramme’, 2 April 2019. with high levels of income and education,
D.W.S. et al., ‘Understanding markets
to conserve trade-threatened species in 36 Doom, J., ‘7.5 tons of ivory, pangolin and frequent travel outside the country.
CITES’, Biological Conservation, 187, 249- scales seized in Viet Nam’, ABC News, 14
48 Bale, R., ‘Pangolin scale medicines no
259, 2015. June 2019.
longer covered by Chinese insurance’,
25 UNODC, World Wildlife Crime Report, 37 CITES, Wildlife crime enforcement support National Geographic: Wildlife Watch, 29
2016. in West and Central Africa, CoP18, Doc34 August 2019.
(available at: https://cites.org/sites/default/
26 UNODC, World Wildlife Crime Report, 49 USAID Viet Nam, ‘Research Study on
files/eng/cop/18/doc/E-CoP18-034.pdf ).
2016. Consumer Demand for Elephant, Rhino
38 TRAFFIC, ‘Ivory processing workshop and Pangolin Parts and Products in
27 UNODC, West and Central Africa Transna- found in Angola following airport rhino Viet Nam’, research study submitted by
tional Organized Crime Threat Assessment, horn seizure’, 28 August 2018. GlobeScan, 2018.
2018.
39 UNODC fieldwork; Osborne, S. 2019, 50 Supporting documents provided with
28 UNODC fieldwork. op.cit. requests for CITES listing upgrades for
29 Despite heavy community involvement in 40 UNODC fieldwork. multiple pangolin species suggest that
the pangolin trade, there are certain com- demand remains strong and is driving these
munities, like the Lugave Clan in Uganda’s 41 Also confirmed by research from the first
UNODC World Wildlife Crime Report species to extinction as demand outpaces
Mukono District, that protect pangolin the number of individuals available for
populations (in this case because the spe- (2016).
consumption (CITES CoP17 Prop. 9).
cies is their totem animal). 42 China Daily, Smuggled pangolin scales
30 Hunters operating near national parks seized in joint operation, 12 December
reported the highest per day catches. 2019 (available at: http://www.china.org.
cn/china/2019-12/12/content_75505980.
31 UNODC fieldwork. htm).
WORLD WILDLIFE CRIME REPORT 2020
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