Over 1,000 pangolins poached and trafficked in India between 2018 and 2022

Source: The post is based on the article “Over 1,000 pangolins poached and trafficked in India between 2018 and 2022” published in The Hindu on 18th February 2023

What is the News?

TRAFFIC and WWF-India has brought out a publication titled ‘India’s Pangolins Buried in Illegal Wildlife Trade’.

What are the key findings of the report?

During the period between 2018-2022, 1,203 pangolins were poached and trafficked for illicit wildlife trade in 342 seizure incidents.

Among the 24 States and one Union Territory that reported seizure of pangolins, Odisha reported the maximum number of seizures.

Live pangolins represented 50% of the total number of seizure incidents.

Suggestions: The publication stresses the need to address the demand for pangolins in consumer countries and strengthen enforcement actions to deter trade.

About Pangolins in India

India is home to two species 1) Indian Pangolin, found across the sub-continent and 2) Chinese Pangolin, found across a larger area in south Asia. Bihar, West Bengal and Assam see the presence of both.

– Both species are included under India’s Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act which could result in a jail term for those hunting animals listed here.

Threats: India reports a significant number of pangolin trafficking incidents reflected by seizures across the country.

— They are poached mainly for international markets in China and Southeast Asia for their scales, which are used as an ingredient in traditional medicines and are believed to cure various ailments. Pangolin meat is also considered a delicacy and consumed for its alleged medicinal properties.

– An analysis of illegal pangolin trade in India by TRAFFIC in 2018 reported the poaching of 6,000 pangolins between 2009 and 2017.