Manis pentadactyla
CHINESE PANGOLIN
Pangolins are unusual looking mammals covered in hard scales which are made of keratin – the same substance that forms our fingernails. They can consume up to 20,000 insects a day!
Most pangolin species are now being driven toward extinction primarily because of the demand for their keratin scales, even though there is NO scientific evidence to suggest that the scales contain healing properties or special medicinal functions.
The Chinese Pangolin is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. It's also a protected species under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap. 170 in Hong Kong and it's a scheduled species under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), which gives effect to CITES. Any commercial trading of the Chinese Pangolin (which is in CITES I), or its body parts, has been banned.
The IUCN estimate that a pangolin is poached every 5 minutes globally. Pangolins are injected with water and/or force fed with inappropriate diet to increase their mass and therefore commercial value.
Between 2015 and 2019, Hong Kong authorities seized over 35 tons of pangolin scales that represented about 70,000 pangolins. Less than 20% of these seizures were prosecuted.
- If you are extremely lucky to spot a healthy pangolin in Hong Kong, report your sighting to biodivcon@afcd.gov.hk (photo proof required)
- If you encounter an injured or distressed pangolin or any other wild animal in Hong Kong, call AFCD (1823) or SPCA (2711 1000) immediately (both are 24-hour hotlines).
Sources and useful links:
1) Kadoorie Farm website
2) Pangolin Action Plan 2019-2024 Hong Kong
3) Trading in Extinction - the Dark Side of Hong Kong's wildlife trade www.kfbg.org/upload/Publications/WLC_FullReportEng_FINAL.pdf
Manis pentadactyla
CHINESE PANGOLIN
Pangolins are unusual looking mammals covered in hard scales which are made of keratin – the same substance that forms our fingernails. They can consume up to 20,000 insects a day!
Most pangolin species are now being driven toward extinction primarily because of the demand for their keratin scales, even though there is NO scientific evidence to suggest that the scales contain healing properties or special medicinal functions.
The Chinese Pangolin is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. It's also a protected species under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap. 170 in Hong Kong and it's a scheduled species under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), which gives effect to CITES. Any commercial trading of the Chinese Pangolin (which is in CITES I), or its body parts, has been banned.
The IUCN estimate that a pangolin is poached every 5 minutes globally. Pangolins are injected with water and/or force fed with inappropriate diet to increase their mass and therefore commercial value.
Between 2015 and 2019, Hong Kong authorities seized over 35 tons of pangolin scales that represented about 70,000 pangolins. Less than 20% of these seizures were prosecuted.
- If you are extremely lucky to spot a healthy pangolin in Hong Kong, report your sighting to biodivcon@afcd.gov.hk (photo proof required)
- If you encounter an injured or distressed pangolin or any other wild animal in Hong Kong, call AFCD (1823) or SPCA (2711 1000) immediately (both are 24-hour hotlines).
Sources and useful links:
1) Kadoorie Farm website
2) Pangolin Action Plan 2019-2024 Hong Kong
3) Trading in Extinction - the Dark Side of Hong Kong's wildlife trade www.kfbg.org/upload/Publications/WLC_FullReportEng_FINAL.pdf