Pangolins, fascinating and endangered animals, are the most trafficked mammals in the world. In Africa, they are in danger, but actions are being taken to protect them.
Recently, seven Zimbabweans were arrested for capturing a pangolin, an endangered animal. They face up to nine years in prison if found guilty. The police pretended to be buyers to catch them.
Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are protected by laws because they are threatened with extinction. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says that over a million pangolins have been captured for their meat and scales, which are used in traditional medicine.
These animals have scales like our nails, made of keratin. When they are scared, they roll into a ball to protect themselves. But their scales don’t protect them from poachers.
In 2020, in Zimbabwe, 82 people were arrested for having pangolins. The authorities recovered 17 pangolins and many scales. Pangolins need our help to survive.
