Issue
A country that is doubling the number of tigers, an example of rhino conservation eliminating poaching for many years, can not save a single pangolin.
Sounds hilarious, right? But, this is true.
A pangolin that was rescued after seizing it by traffickers had given birth to a rosy pocket-sized little one. The news was widespread among the conservation circle. Concerns from all around the world were heard.
Everyone interested came, took photos, sympathized and returned. But, the concern was raised about where it was to be taken. was it to be taken to the zoo? Was it to be left in the wild? The realisation lack of a single professional who knew how to take care of the newborn pangolin put the life of the pangolin at risk.
Pangolin is a nocturnal, fossorial or arboreal and scaly mammal. A total of eight species of pangolin are found in the world. All eight species of pangolin are listed as vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered by IUCN. Pangolins are also known as a natural pest controllers for a pangolin that eats about a 70million insects annually using its long snout and tongue.
Nepal is home to two species of pangolin which may ring the bell of extinction anytime soon if no serious action for protection is taken. Chinese pangolin which is critically endangered is found in 45 districts and the Indian pangolin which is endangered is found in all 77 districts of Nepal.
Analysis
Pangolins are used in Chinese traditional medicine. Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in China which is supposed to increase one’s intelligence. It sells for a very high price in various famous restaurants. Pangolins are also trafficked for their scales and blood which are believed to treat various liver conditions and skin diseases despite having no medicinal or therapeutic value.
China borders Nepal in the north, to continue feeding the rising demand for pangolins from the north many pangolins are trafficked. Nepal acts as both a supply and transit point for trafficking. About 100,000 pangolins are trafficked to China from Southeast Asia yearly. About 1million pangolins have been killed in the past decade making Pangolin the most trafficked mammal occupying 20% of the total illegal trade.
China has upgraded the protection of pangolin to class-I which is the highest form of protection under the national legislation on June 5th 2020. Similarly, Nepal also has a law that punishes traffickers with a fine of NPR1million and/or 15 years of jail. With such laws and protection also pangolin trafficking has not gone downhill. Sometimes people cannot stop thinking about why.
The issue about pangolin trafficking does not only involve picking up the pangolin, keeping it in a sack and selling it. It also involves strict supervision at borders and checkpoints and enforcement of the law. Then what after the rescue?
What is the main purpose of rescuing the pangolin that is trafficked? How long have most of the rescued pangolins survived?
Proposal
Under the NPWC Act 1973, possessing, transporting, selling, or buying pangolin derivatives is punishable by a fine of 500,000–1 million Nepalese Rupees (up to US$ 9000) and/or a sentence of 5–15 years in prison. Though the law has been enforced, poaching of pangolins has not been going downhill. In recent years conservation of pangolin has been gaining some light but it's still not enough. Researchers believe that pangolin will go extinct mainly because people are not aware and educated about pangolin’s existence.
According to wildlife seizure records in Nepal, one-sixth of pangolins are captured alive. The frontline officials can only save rescued pangolins if they can handle them properly. Pangolins are critically endangered and the ability to rehabilitate rescued pangolins is an important need that is not currently being met in Nepal. When discussing live pangolin seizures and rescue events with frontline officials, they reported the difficulty and confusion of trying to care for a rescued pangolin. In addition, there is a lengthy legal process before releasing pangolins into the forest or handing them over to zoo officials. Frontline workers are not trained enough to take care of the rescued pangolin.
Community awareness and educational programmes have been taking place in different parts of Nepal in the last few years. But trafficking has been rampant. The basic reason for trafficking comes down to poverty and lack of awareness. Community-led protection has proved effective in some regions for pangolins outside protected areas. A key challenge in pangolin conservation has also been the inability to find a common ground for the species and humans.
Social skills, vocational training, good opportunity for occupation, awareness and education programmes, etc can help reduce pangolin trafficking significantly.
Further questions
Open border: Nepal, has been a suitable route for pangolin trafficking between African countries, India and China. Is Nepal’s open border with India making wildlife poaching a lot easier?
Education: Education and awareness of different aspects of wildlife poaching in Nepal are lacking. Laws are not known to the probable trafficker. Aware citizens are also found involved. The question arises is educating people without getting rid of poverty help decrease the number of poaching done for survival?
Legalising consumption: In some parts of China, the selling of pangolin meat is legalised. Some people even claim that legalising may help reduce the number of poaching. They claim that with legalised consumption, the price on the black market will go downhill and poachers are less tempted. Is it true and feasible?
https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/protecting-pangolins-in-the-pandemic/
https://kathmandupost.com/national/2015/02/22/illegal-trade-of-pangolin-grew-eight-fold
https://nepalnews.com/index.php/s/nation/pangolin-rescued-by-forest-division-in-gorkha
https://www.pangolinsg.org/2016/05/26/scaling-up-pangolin-conservation-in-nepal/
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