Pangolins in Malaysia: They're hunted for their scales and meat

New Straits Times 21 Jul 13;

ACCORDING to Dr Chris Shepherd, deputy regional director of Traffic Southeast Asia, the illegal trafficking of pangolins has gone down over the years, not because conservation efforts are paying off, but because it is getting harder to source the animals.

Pangolins are hunted for their scales and meat. The scales are used in traditional medicines and the meat is eaten as a luxury dish.

"When you see a doctor, you don't ask what medicine to be given to you. Instead, the doctor gives you what works well. That's why Traffic is encouraging traditional medicine practitioners to stop prescribing pangolin," says Shepherd.

"There are approximately 30 legal herbal alternatives available.

"As for the meat, unfortunately, it is the consumers who choose what they want to eat, and to show off their wealth in a restaurant."

As society becomes affluent, the demand for pangolin has overtaken enforcement efforts. Shepherd says the enforcement of wildlife laws needs to be proactive rather than reactive, to a point where people become aware that the penalties outweigh the illicit rewards.

Although tens of thousands of pangolins have been seized in Southeast Asia, including a 17-tonne haul in Indonesia, the quantity of the seizures do not indicate how severe the illicit trade has grown.

Instead, Shepherd says the best sign is the falling population in places where pangolins once roamed abundantly. This has been reported by researchers, government authorities and the illegal hunters themselves.

The shift in sourcing locations is another indication of how much people are willing to pay to consume this endangered species. With the numbers dwindling in Asia, traders are turning to Africa for supplies.

China, the biggest market for pangolins, and Indochina countries, which are emerging markets, have lost most of their animal populations. Malaysia, Indonesia and Palawan Island in the Philippines are still sourcing locations.

These countries are the final frontiers for Asian pangolins and, therefore, the need to step up conservation efforts is urgent. In Malaysia, the demand for exotic meat is growing but pangolins are hard to find because most have been exported.

In a study conducted by Traffic in 2009, the flow of pangolins from Southeast Asian countries seem to concentrate in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

The animals captured from Palawan Island are exported to Kudat and Sandakan in Sabah, whereas those from Java and Sumatra will be taken to the peninsula. It has also been reported that pangolins from Sabah have been sent to the peninsula and mixed with the local supply chain. There are also networks believed to exist in Sarawak.

Malaysia has the best laws in the region to fight illegal wildlife trade, especially with the introduction of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.

Despite that, Shepherd says conviction rates are still low and were mostly against the small fish -- runners and lorry drivers who can be easily replaced.

Pangolins are smuggled using existing transport facilities, such as lorries and air freight. Syndicates hide their contraband by using false documents and packaging deception.

Shepherd says the kingpins must be removed and in doing so, more resources are needed to beef up patrols, investigate cases and prosecute suspects.

He says Malaysia has stepped up its efforts to fight illegal wildlife trade, but resources are still inadequate, especially for the conservation of unpopular species like pangolins.

Most of the available resources are used to support high-profile endangered species such as tigers, elephants and turtles.

Despite the obstacles, Shepherd says things are moving in the right direction. In fact, he says Malaysia has a good opportunity to tackle the illegal trade of pangolins and be a leader in its conservation.

He finds fulfilment in his work when there is an increase of awareness in the plight of endangered species among the public.

Seventeen years ago, when he first took up his position with Traffic, the media only contacted him once every six months for resources.

Today, he frequently gets calls to generate publicity for endangered animals. He says media focus, especially when it comes to highlighting the plight of specific species, is the best ally to raise awareness on its conservation.