Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Pangolins

latest news & developments
Tiny stowaways — disease-carrying ticks — can be hidden beneath the armoured scales of pangolins, the world’s most illegally trafficked mammals.
BIODIVERSITY

Hidden hitchhikers: Ticks on trafficked pangolins pose health threats

Scientists warn that ticks carried by trafficked pangolins may spread pathogens across continents, affecting people and animals

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
Photo: Jane Goodall Institute
AFRICAN PANGOLIN WORKING GROUP

South Africa’s pangolins face rising threat as illegal trade grows

China has proposed a drastic reduction in the use of pangolin scales for traditional medicine

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
A juvenile leopard cat, seized by authorities during an anti-smuggling operation, is seen past suspected smugglers during a press conference announcing the seizure of trafficked exotic animals in Surabaya on March 27, 2019. (Getty)
ADAMS CASSINGA

Facebook is a ‘major enabler’ of illegal trade in wildlife

An Avaaz Investigation shows how its algorithms drag casual users into international wildlife trafficking rabbit hole

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Endangered: The Democratic Republic of the Congo burnt pangolin scales and ivory in 2018 in Kinshasa in a bid to stop the illegal trade. (John Wessels/AFP)
AFRICA

Lethal remedy: Concern over African trade in traditional Chinese medicine that contains threatened species

The Environmental Investigation Agency, an international NGO, says growing demand is a prescription for disaster for some endangered animals such as leopards, pangolins and rhinos

  • Tunicia Phillips
3 min read
A pangolin skin is displayed amongst other exotic and illegal animal parts at a stall on February 17, 2016 in Mong La, Myanmar. Mong La, the capital of Myanmar’s Special Region No. 4, is a mostly lawless area where Chinese tourists are able to cross the border for exotic poached animals, gambling, and prostitution. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
AFRICAN PANGOLIN WORKING GROUP

Pangolins pushed to the brink of extinction

The trafficking of scales is no longer a ‘niche’ criminal activity, but a serious and organised crime that threatens to make all eight species extinct within 20 years

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
An investigator uses a metal detector to search for a bullet used to poach a rhino in Kruger National Park. (Photo by Gallo Images/The Times/Daniel Born)
ABALONE

Poachers in prisons tell their stories

Interviews with offenders provide insight into the structure of illegal wildlife trade networks

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
The Green Scorpions continue to focus on high risk species such as rhinos, elephants, pangolins and cycads “while still ensuring other species receive protection from the inspectorate”.
BYUNGUSU KIM

Sharp sting of the Green Scorpions

Crime busters secure a 97% conviction rate and register more criminal dockets for range of crimes

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
Fighters: Nicci Wright and her team at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital have six pangolins under their care right now. Rescued from illegal traders, the animals are often ill and need treatment before they can be released. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
AFRICAN PANGOLIN WORKING GROUP

Saving the world’s most trafficked mammal

Covid-19 has led to a surge in local pangolin poaching cases, but saviours keep fighting.

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
A man in protective gear disinfects a bus. The disinfection consists of washing the exterior of a bus, dry sweeping and wet cleaning the inside and aerosol spraying. (Artur Harutyunyan Tass via Getty Images)
ANDREW CUNNINGHAM
Video

Covid-19: Lessons from the zombie apocalypse

Humans are primed to lay the blame for this pandemic at nature’s door, but if we do not wish to reap disaster, we should not sow its seeds

  • Bert Olivier
6 min read
EYAAZ MATWADIA

‘Forgotten Five’ in need of rescuing

From pangolins to pythons, species are being threatened by poachers for lucrative markets. A Namibian tells of her bid to make a difference

  • Eyaaz Matwadia
5 min read