U.S Officials Say Endangered Pangolins Need Protection

Cindy Pu

Pangolins are strangely cute animals who are sadly endangered due to trafficking. They are believed to be one of the most heavily trafficked and endangered mammals in the world.

Pangolins live in a variety of habitats across Africa and Asia, including tropical rainforests and grasslands. They have many ways to protect themselves from natural predators, but none to get away from lurking humans. United States federal officers said that these mammals should be able to receive protection from the Endangered Species Act so they can make it off the endangered list.

President Trump has attempted to weaken environmental policies and rules like the Endangered Species Act before. Though his efforts didn’t stop conservationists from acting upon this global problem, leading up to a proposal to protect the Pangolin species by bringing them under the protection of the United States.

Pangolins can roll up into a ball for protection, with their hard scales on the outside and soft face and belly hidden on the inside. They use this natural defense whenever they feel threatened. This behavior works effectively against the Pangolin’s natural predators but makes it a lot easier for poachers to snatch them away. Officials say the population of this mammal has declined due to habitat loss, genetic health issues, and illegal trafficking.

For thousands of years, Pangolin scales have been used in some Chinese medicines, but now, China is working on removing it from their list of approved medicines. A study from the University of Cambridge shows that Pangolins are often illegally hunted for their meat in West Africa. Interviews with hundreds of hunters from Nigeria show that Pangolins are hunted for food, while most of the scales are thrown away.

The proposal for more protection over Pangolins has made the U.S. tighten their restrictions over allowing the sales of Pangolin parts within the United States.

The good thing is that public awareness over Pangolins has grown over the years. Having kids know more about pangolins and being interested in making a difference is the key to helping these mammals.