Pangolins in the News


Scales from 11,000 Pangolins Seized in Hong Kong from Nigeria

Nigeria – The Nigerian Minister of Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, has opened an investigation into the seizure by the Hong Kong Customs Service of 7,100 kilos of pangolins scales – representing approximately 11,000 pangolins, according to Pangolin Conservation. “The Ministry has initiated the investigation of the reported illegal trade by communicating officially with the Hong Kong CITES Management Authority with a view of furnishing the documents that will be forwarded to INTERPOL for further investigation.”, […]


Frozen Palawan Pangolin Confiscated at Checkpoint in the Philippines

Philippines – A vehicle carrying the 21 frozen Palawan Pangolins (Manis culionensis) was discovered at a government checkpoint about 5:30am – on July 28, 2018 – in the Philippines near Puerto Princesa City, according to officials at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Community Environment and Natural Resource Officer (CENRO) Elmer Garaez said, “We were told by the driver that he came from Roxas and that he was only supposed to deliver it […]


China’s Largest Seizure of Endangered Pangolin Scales from Africa, 11.9 tons from 20k Pangolins!

BEIJING – Chinese customs have seized 11.9 tonnes of scales of pangolins, the world’s most poached animal and under threat of extinction, in their biggest seizure of its kind, state media said on Wednesday. The scales, used in traditional remedies for ailments such as asthma, rheumatism and arthritis, are estimated to have come from at least 20,000 pangolins in Africa. They were seized on a ship in Shenzhen, bordering Hong Kong, in July. Arrest warrants […]


Poachers Received Heavy Sentences for Possession of Pangolin

POLOKWANE – Two poachers have been sentenced to an effective three years imprisonment without the option of a fine for the possession of protected species (pangolin), said the police on Saturday. Oliver Tambo (37) and Kenny Mandebvui (31), both from Zimbabwe, appeared before the Mankweng Regional Court this week on two counts of possession of protected species (pangolin). This after their arrest on 27 October 2016 said, Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe. “These sentences emanate […]


Suspect to be Charged for Attempted Smuggling of Pangolin Scales

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 29 ― A company proprietor detained by the Sabah Customs Department for allegedly attempting to smuggle out about 8,000kg of pangolin scales worth about RM100 million via the Sepanggar Port near here on July 29, will be charged in court soon. Customs director-general Datuk T. Subromaniam said investigations into the case involving the 43-year-old suspect who was picked up on July 29, was almost complete. “He will be charged under Section 135 […]


Sabah Wants Pangolins to be Totally Protected Species

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 29 ― The Sabah government will urgently seek to upgrade the protection status of pangolins in the state to Totally Protected. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said there was a pressing need to raise the status to send a strong message to poachers and wildlife traffickers that the state was serious in tackling the problem. “Enough is enough. It’s been a long time coming now, but Sabah Wildlife […]


Thailand Seizes 136 Smuggled Live Pangolins

BANGKOK – Thai customs have confiscated 136 live pangolins, the world’s most poached animal, and 450 kg (992 lb) of pangolin scales worth 2.5 million baht ($75,000), officials said on Thursday. Authorities managed to intercept the smuggled pangolins which entered Thailand from Malaysia late on Wednesday after a tip-off. Director-general of Thai Customs Department, Kulit Sombatsiri, said the market value and demand of the animals and their body parts remained high, which drove smuggling.  “The […]


Customs: Malaysia Not the Only Transit Point for Wildlife Smuggling

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia is not the only transit point in South-East Asia being used by international syndicates to smuggle wildlife, says Customs Department director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy (pix).   He said the perception that Malaysian ports were key transit points for wildlife smuggling was not true, but rather, this indicated Customs’ many successes against smugglers here. “We know that smugglers are using other ports in neighbouring countries. I do not want to name but they […]


Attempted Smugging 357kg Pangolin Scales Discovered at Vietnam’s Noi Bai Airport

Customs officers detected two consignments containing pangolin scales at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on April 4. The consignments were transported from Ghana to Noi Bai on February 27. Recently, many consignments of pangolin scales were uncovered at the airport, including one from Cameroon containing 357kg of scales. The traditional use of pangolin scales to treat blocked milk ducts is touted by a number of websites online, but doctors of traditional medicine said scientific […]


Taipei Sends Pangolins to Germany’s Leipzig Zoo As Conservation Ambassadors

Taipei, Dec. 14: Two pangolins from the Taipei Zoo have been sent to Germany’s Leipzig Zoo as part of the zoo’s conservation efforts to help sustain the captive pangolin population in Germany, the Taipei Zoo said Wednesday. Pangolins are considered to be hard to breed, but Taipei Zoo has a lot of experience in rescuing injured wild pangolins for over three decades. It is hoped that the animals, a male named Shui-li (水里) and a female […]