Category: poaching | Date: Mar 13 2009 | By: Siew Te Wong

I know the species is not sun bear, BUT we still need to help!

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Pangolins face worst threat in SE Asia: wildlife official

Mar 2, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Pangolins face the worst threat from poachers and smugglers in Southeast Asia with inadequate punishment and lack of information encouraging the burgeoning trade, according to a wildlife official.

Trade in the animals, also known as scaly anteaters, is expected to increase unless governments here take tougher action, Chumphon Sukkaseam, a senior official with the Association of Southeast Asean Nations (ASEAN) Wildlife Enforcement Network said.

“More than a 100 tonnes of smuggled pangolin meat heading to China was confiscated in the region last year but that is only 10 to 20 percent of the amount of Pangolin meat successfully smuggled into China,” he said.

“Smuggling will increase unless tough action is taken as pangolins now face the worst threat from smugglers and poachers in Southeast Asia,” Chumphon added, speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on wildlife crime and prosecution for the Malaysian judiciary.

Pangolins are indigenous to the jungles of Indonesia, parts of Malaysia and areas of southern Thailand, with its meat considered a delicacy in China.It is classified as a protected species under the UN’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

“The main route for smuggling Pangolins is from Indonesia to Malaysia and then through Thailand to Laos or Vietnam which border China,” he added.

Chumphon said the main problem was porous borders between the countries, insufficient information exchange on cases and the small fines given to smugglers.

The head of Malaysia’s wildlife and national parks department Abdul Rasid Samsudin said the government was planning to strengthen its wildlife laws this year.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iVZj41SEArClPySogN7ov1jlcG2Q

Despite Trade Ban, Poachers Still Seek Pangolins in Southeast Asia

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 March 2009, 15:54 CST

 Pangolins in Southeast Asia are dwindling in numbers due to poaching activities, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Wildlife Enforcement Network said on Tuesday. Poachers have long sought after the scaly anteaters for their meat, which is used for consumption. They also use their scales for traditional medicines.

“More than a 100 tons of smuggled pangolin meat heading to China was confiscated in the region last year but that is only 10 to 20 percent of the amount of Pangolin meat successfully smuggled into China,” Chumphon Sukkaseam, a senior official with ASEAN told AFP.”Smuggling will increase unless tough action is taken as pangolins now face the worst threat from smugglers and poachers in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Despite a trade ban on international pangolin meat trade, poachers continue to hunt the mammals, which are indigenous to the jungles of Indonesia, parts of Malaysia and areas of southern Thailand

“The main route for smuggling Pangolins is from Indonesia to Malaysia and then through Thailand to Laos or Vietnam which border China,” said Chumphon, acknowledging issues with porous borders between the countries, insufficient information exchange on cases and the small fines given to smugglers, AFP reported.Last month, Singapore’s Night Safari became home to two scaly anteaters, marking the first pangolin exhibit in the world.

“As part of our conservation efforts, Wildlife Reserves Singapore will be spearheading our research work on pangolins here, as very little is known about them worldwide. We feel that it is important to protect our native animal,” said Fanny Lai, Group CEO Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Pangolins are protected under the UN’s Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1648436/despite_trade_ban_poachers_still_seek_pangolins_in_southeast_asia/