Published in the Pakistan Journal of Zoology, author Tariq Mahmood and colleagues report on the targeted threat to the Indian Pangolin in Pakistan over a period of almost eighteen months from January 2011 to May 2012. In this period a total of 118 Indian Pangolins were killed for their scales which are suspected to have been used locally as well as traded internationally. The abstract of the paper can be found below. For a link to the journal click here, or the article, click here.
‘Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) was recorded in Potohar region of Pakistan. From January 2011 to May 2012; 118 individuals were killed brutally including from districts Chakwal (n=60), Attock (n=25), Jhelum (n=19) and Rawalpindi (n=14). Nomads and local hunters have been found directly involved in the illegal trade of the animal with a selling price of Rs.10,000-15,000/- per animal (US$ 108 to 163) depending upon its size. The captured live pangolin is boiled in water tank to remove its scales, the rest of the scale-less dead body being thrown away. It is suspected that its scales have a high demand in the illegal local as well international markets; to be used in manufacturing bullet-proof jackets and in traditional Chinese medicines.’
Mahmood, T., Hussain, R., Irshad, N., Akrim, F. and Nadeem, M. S. (2012). Illegal Mass Killing of Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in Potohar Region, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 44 (5) pp.1457-1461.
