p-boehler

Thank you so much for your kind words!!

We thought about this a lot... it turns out helping is really hard because they come from remote areas and end up in an illegal market. Seizures are only incidental.

It starts with awarness and talking about the issue. Spread the word. Then, if you're travelling in a country that is affected by illegal trade and see something, say something. Report illegal activity. Of course don't consume anything that contains pangolin parts.

Here's a list of NGOs that work on the issue: https://www.pangolinreports.com/pangolins-how-to-help/ (links by country) Patrick

Why can't they be farmed: people have tried, and are trying. But it's really hard!

Copying this from a study: According to literature, over the past 150 years, more than 100 zoos or organizations have attempted to maintain pangolins. Most captive pangolins died within six months, although some were held for two to three years, a few cases lived for 12–19 years. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4490220/

We spent some time with pangolins at a zoon in China. Most of them died within weeks of captivity. It was really sad to see. Patrick

Thank you for your question! Mostly skin and meat! Their skin is composed of scales that are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine but have NO medicinal value. Meat supposedly isn't that great to eat, it's more of a status symbol because trade is illegal and they're hard to get. Patrick

Hi! Great question! How these tons of pangolin scales get past customs checks is a good question. and what the massive scale of the smuggling say about criminal syndicates. just think about what else can be shipped undetected by the same people. Patrick

I'm not sure on the deforestation and illegal trade problem, but tend to think that deforestation is the bigger problem and the illegal trade is an aspect of it. Pangolins are really hard to find and capture in their natural habitat. Patrick