Pangolins: An Endangered Species

The Ocean Park Conservation Foundation in Hong Kong released a list of animals facing extinction within the next 10 years. A whopping 80 percent of Asia's turtles are on this list. So are the pangolins.

Pangolins are an odd looking reptilian-like creature. Their meat is considered a delicacy and many Asians believe the pangolin's scales possess great medicinal value.

Pangolins are mammals and are sometimes called scaly anteaters. This is an accurate description of their appearance, which makes them a bit unappealing as food. They are covered in large scales and live primarily in the tropical regions of Asia and Africa. The name is derived from the Malaysian word 'pengguling' which means "something that rolls up".

The nocturnal pangolin spends most of the day asleep, curled into a ball. They are sometimes active during daytime, however, and use a keen sense of smell to find insects to eat.

Pangolins also curl themselves into a ball when they feel threatened. Once they are curled up, it takes a lot of force to uncurl them. Their scales can injure anything trying to uncurl them. As an additional defense mechanism, anal scent glands emit strong and foul secretions.

The pangolins have large tails and small heads, and they are toothless. Despite good hearing, they have no external ears. Their large scales contain keratin, and account for 20 percent of the mammal's weight.

Pangolins are able to use their long tongues to remove bugs hiding under their scales. They can preen themselves by using their hind legs.

Illegal trade of pangolins has risen from 939 heads in 2004 to over 6,000 heads in 2006. Some pangolins may be sent to restaurants after being traded. Over 100 pangolins were recently saved from such a fate.

The 100 pangolins were found alive while being smuggled from Laos to China. They will be nursed to health by the Royal Forest Department and then released into a habitat in Thailand.

The problem with the consumer demand for pangolins is that there is no longer a sustainable level in the population. This makes it likely for this species to be extinct within the next ten years.

The Ocean Park Conservation Foundation plans to spend several million dollars on many projects over the next two years. Projects will focus on illegal trade, population and distribution of the endangered freshwater turtles and others, including the pangolin. Reptiles, birds, seahorses, marine mammals, giant pandas, and coral reefs will also be studied.

Sources:
http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/229646.htm
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jVurOsYozbvO1lDFHQoQJWhxOFGQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangolin
http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/pangolin