Pangolins, believed to be the most heavily trafficked animals in the world for their scales and meat, should finally receive protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The adorable scale-covered creature is, “native to Africa and Asia, but the Endangered Species Act requires the government to protect endangered species whether they live in the United
States or abroad.”

They are heavily trafficked for the use of their scales in Chinese medicines and meat. This proposal is in response to years-long legal action by conservationists and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, despite Trump’s efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act.

The proposal plans to add seven pangolin species under the protection of the United States. These species include “the Chinese, Indian, Sunda and Philippine pangolin — and three species native to Africa, including the white-bellied, black-bellied and giant pangolin.” The new protection that pangolins are receiving will prohibit the “import and export, hunting and commercial activity” of them. The protection may also “open the door to financial assistance to develop and manage conservation programs in the species’ native countries, although that has been thrown into question recently by funding freezes and cuts under the Trump administration.”

“An eighth species from Africa, the Temminck’s ground pangolin, is already protected by the law. Scientists also say two more species of the mammal may exist.”

International trade in pangolins are already prohibited. The proposal with the U.S. would tighten restrictions and ban the sale of all pangolin parts in the U.S. Currently, the sale of some older parts of pangolin are the only exemption of pangolin markets in the U.S. The tighter restrictions would “also send a message to China, which continues to have a fairly active domestic market for pangolin scales.”

Pangolins are mainly hunted for scales, as it has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Their meat is also considered a delicacy in China and multiple other countries. Chinese research has shown that pangolin scales currently “don’t support their clinical use” and since then, China has removed pangolin scales from its list of approved medicines. However, they are not banned yet.

“A 60-day comment period on the proposed rule will start Tuesday, and officials will
review comments before publishing a final decision.”

Sources: