Two sharp-nosed Labradors from England are heading to Thailand to save critically-endangered pangolins from wildlife smugglers.
The elusive, nocturnal pangolin – capable of roll up into an armour-plated ball when threatened – is probably the most trafficked animal in the world.
Known as “scaly anteaters,” these unique mammals disguised as reptiles are trafficked primarily for their scales, that are utilized in traditional Chinese medicine. Pangolin meat is also thought-about a delicacy in Vietnam, and China.
Sometimes, pangolins are trafficked only for style, being the only scale-covered mammal on the planet. Now, all eight species of pangolin are at threat of extinction – 4 of that are found in Asia: the Indian pangolin, the Philippine pangolin, the Sunda pangolin and the Chinese pangolin.
The Sunda pangolin, also identified as the Malaysian pangolin, could be discovered mooching around in the forests of Thailand’s national parks.
Georgina Gerald, a pangolin specialist for the Zoological Society of London, advised Reuters…
“Intelligence has been telling us that reside pangolins are being trafficked all across Thailand – primarily by road. Some automobiles even have purpose-built concealed areas to transport the critically endangered species.”
Secure and Bess, two labradors from England, underwent an eight-week training course in London to learn how to sniff out pangolins.
The labs will soon fly to Thailand and patrol airports, ports and roads to detect and save pangolins in their battle towards extinction.
“Not all heroes put on capes: some stroll on all fours and have extremely highly effective noses,” said Gerald.
In December, Thai police arrested a girl in Songkhla province as she stepped off a prepare and headed toward her automotive carrying two cooler baggage, carrying practically 70 unusual animal carcasses.
Inside the coolers, police discovered over 50 kilograms of lifeless protected wildlife including seven monitor lizards (10 kilograms), one pangolin (4.5 kilograms), two langur monkeys (9.5 kilograms), 54 squirrels (10.5 kilograms), two mouse-deers (2.5 kilograms) and two civets (10.5 kilograms).
Kankamon confessed to promoting the carcasses by way of social media to individuals who eat “exotic dishes.”
In 2021, a pangolin wandered out of the jungle in Phuket and curled up for a nap under a tree close to an influence plant in the Kamala district.
The name “pangolin” comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning “one who rolls up.”