Survival of
Pangolins Preoccupies Conservationists
The 7th
annual World Pangolin Day was on 17 February 2018 celebrated in Cameroon with
authorities sensitizing the public on the need to protect the pangolin specie
that is said to be facing serious survival challenges.
According to
statistics for the last two years from the wildlife law enforcement support
body LAGA (EAGLE Cameroon), over 7000kg of pangolins scales have been seized
during crackdown operations carried out by the Ministry of Forestry and
Wildlife within the framework of its wildlife law enforcement programme started
in 2003 with the support of LAGA. These figures represent seizures carried out
under the framework of the collaboration alone, while the ministry has equally
been seizing pangolin scales all through.
The alarming and sudden spikes in
the illegal trade in pangolin scales is unsettling many conservationists who
fully understand the devastation this is causing pangolin populations while the
world looks on. These peaceful animals which are totally protected in Cameroon
are silently been killed to extinction. It is in the light of the above
statistics and challenges that some conservation organisations and the US
Embassy recently met at the offices of TRAFFIC to map out activities to address
public awareness and sensitization needs for the Pangolin Day.
According to Francis Nchembi Tarla,
Head of a mentorship progrmme that has been training pangolin champions the
pulling of resources was necessary and he declared:
“We decided to come together to
highlight the plight of the pangolins and raise public awareness on issues
related to pangolin conservation”. A number of sensitization activities
including radio talk shows, TV slots, pamphlets distribution and social media
campaigns have earmarked as part of activities that shall culminate on February
17, 2018.
It is expected that these activities
would inform Cameroonians about the threats the pangolins face. The animal has
too often been ignored and perceptions about it is not very flattering compared
to iconic species such as the elephants, lions, leopards, hippos and more. This
is a problem that needs to be addressed, as well the two major threats
undermining the survival of the species. These include the trafficking in pangolin
scales and the illegal commercialization of pangolin meat. Pangolins are
basically known for their meat and the scales which is fast becoming a huge
commodity for traffickers around the world and in Cameroon. The Central African
sub-region has become a big supply base for traffickers who smuggle scales to
Asia.
Wildlife law enforcement operations
to curb the trend have increased over a short period. The quantities seized
during such operations are equally impressive. Last year in January over 5 tons
were seized from two Chinese nationals who were just about to illegally export
the haul from Douala. About three weeks ago, three were arrested in Ambam with
80kg of mostly giant pangolin scales which is really a feat because putting
together 80kg of the rarest of the three pangolins is very difficult.
Among the four pangolins species
that exist in Africa, three are based in the country and include the giant
pangolin, which is the most threatened with extinction, the black-bellied
pangolin and the white-bellied pangolin. All three pangolins have the same
defensive mechanisms which provide very little or basically no protection
against poachers. When threatened the animal that has its head, body and tail
covered with horny and overlapping scales, curls up into a ball, relying on its
scales for protection, making it easy pick for poachers. This explains why
captured animals on display are live because you don’t need to kill it to take
it home. This is working negatively against the species that needs huge human efforts
to prevent its demise. This starts with recognizing the Day and using it to
create public awareness.
No comments:
Post a Comment