Two of the four species of Asian pangolins are endangered, and the other two are threatened. One of the main causes is the completely illegal trade in their scales, which form a supposed cure for all sorts of ailments, and their meat.
Although trade in pangolins and their parts is banned under international law, a flourishing black market exists in South East Asia. Pangolins are captured and kept alive in brutally cramped conditions while they are smuggled between and within countries. Those that haven’t already died of hunger, thirst or fear are then killed for their valuable parts.
Vietnam is included in the range of the two most threatened species – the Sundra pangolin and the Chinese pangolin. It is also one of the countries with a market for pangolin parts.
These innocuous little animals should not shoved over the edge of extinction for the sake of a luxury meat and an ineffective medicine.
Tell Vietnam to crack down on the pangolin trade.
We the undersigned ask that you take immediate action to control the illegal trade in pangolins. Vietnam is home to two of the most threatened species: the Sundra pangolin (Manis javanica) whose range extends through southern Vietnam and the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), which is found in the north.
The escalating trade in pangolin meat and scales, for which Vietnam is both a buyer and a supplier, is putting these animals at risk of extinction. Although the pangolin trade was banned internationally in 2000, it is still growing and the four Asian species are becoming rarer and rarer.
Vietnam is in a key position to take action and we ask that you do so as a matter of urgency. Preserving the country’s natural heritage is of the utmost importance and, while pangolins might not be as attention-grabbing as larger, more charismatic species such as tigers, they still urgently need protection.
Please take action to reduce this illegal, cruel and unethical trade.
Thank you for your attention.
