Endangered Animals

THE UNKNOWN PERIL OF THE PANGOLIN

I have permission from demiveemon on deviantart to post this here. The original deviantart post is HERE. Thank you for your permission! This is a little feature on the animal featured in our default icon, the pangolin. PLEASE SPREAD THIS POST! 

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It’s become obvious to us that very few people know of the existence of an animal called pangolin. Out of those, an even smaller fraction know that these amazing animals are rapidly facing extinction due to poachery and a never ending appetite for their meat and body parts on the Chinese and Vietnam black market.

Over the past hours we’ve gathered information and photos from the internet and it’s been a stomach twisting experience. We hereby want to turn the spotlight on the pangolin’s plight and bring it to public attention so please, spare some minutes of your time and keep on reading. 

8 things everyone needs know about the pangolin’s peril and the burgeoning black market: 

* The demand for pangolins and their body parts stems almost exclusively from East and Southeast Asia, and especially from China and Vietnam.

* Pangolin meat is consumed as a delicacy, while their scales, blood, and fetuses are used to make traditional medicines. Subscribers of this ideology superstitiously use these substances to treat a number of health issues; for example, to reduce swelling, improve liver function, boost weight loss, stimulate blood circulation, increase fertility, and to enhance lactation in breast-feeding women. Stuffed pangolins are sold as souvenirs and ornamental displays, and their skin and scales are also used to make fashion accessories.

* There is no scientific evidence to support the medicinal claims surrounding the use of pangolin scales or body parts. In fact, the scales—which are one of the most sought after parts of the animal—are made of keratin, the same protein that our own hair and nails, horse hooves, and rhino horn are composed of. Scientific studies on rhino horn have repeatedly proven it to be void of any medicinal properties, which suggests the same is true of pangolin scales.

* All eight species of pangolin are currently listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II, which means only limited trade is permitted. However, a zero annual export quota has been established for all four Asian species, which means no pangolins can be exported from any country in the world. Many countries have also established legislation to further protect these animals from poaching.

* Pangolins do not survive well in captivity, which means essentially all of these animals in the illegal trade have been sourced from the wild. This has devastating impacts for remaining populations.

* As with most illegal wildlife trade, organized crime syndicates have commercialized the exploitation of these animals and are the largest suppliers of this black market industry. As pangolins are fairly slow in reproduction, they are being harvested at rates far above what they are capable of replenishing populations at.

* All four Asian species are threatened with extinction. The Chinese and Sunda pangolins are listed as endangered, while the Indian and Malayan species are both classified as ‘Near Threatened’.

* There are, currently, no reliable estimates for population sizes, as their elusive, nocturnal nature challenges researchers’ ability to study them in their habitat. Basically, we have no firm idea of how many may remain in the wild, meaning the most endangered species may be perilously close to extinction.”

Quote Source: [link]

What you can do:

* The far easiest action you can take is by simply spreading the word! The major reason for the vast poaching of pangolins is the misbelief that medicine based on bodyparts and bodyfluids of exotic animals would have any beneficial effect on your health, sexuality or luck. In the long run only a change of attitude and education can bring an end to this atrocity.

* Visit these pages for more information on what you can do and the possibility to make a donation. 
Savepangolins.org [link]
Bushwarriors.org [link]
Traffic.org [link]

* Don’t buy meat, bodyparts or products that contain pangolin (or any other exotic animals for that matter)!


More Articles:

* Rhinos could become extinct in less than a decade, Pangolins might perish before that: [link]

* At least 222.000 pangolins killed in Malaysia in less than 2 years: [link]

* Chinese customs officials seize thousands of dead pangolins: [link]

* Pangolins are the most frequently seized mammal in Asia’s illegal wildlife trade: [link]

* Up to 80% of the illegal wildlife smuggled out of Southeast Asia is headed for China: [link]

Picture sources:

www.een.com
blog.tropicalsky.ie
www.en.wikipedia.org
www.tatliaskim.org
www.guardian.co.uk
bushwarriors.org
bushwarriors.wordpress.com

ICE BUGS (Grylloblattids)

STATUS: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

Grylloblattids (also known as ice crawlers or rock crawlers) are a poorly known group of insects named for their resemblance to both crickets and cockroaches. They are restricted to cold and extreme habitats such as glaciated mountains or ice caves. Grylloblattids are found only in Japan, Siberia, the northwestern United States, and western Canada. There are 26 species known worldwide; the 10 North American species are restricted to icy mountains in Montana, California, Oregon, Washington, and western Canada.  (info)

Current Status:  As glaciers and ice fields recede due to the effects of climate change many grylloblattid habitats are threatened. Therefore, Grylloblattodea stands as the least known and the most threatened insect order. Conservation efforts are further complicated by an almost complete lack of information on grylloblattid life history, biology, and behavior. For example, the IUCN hasn’t evaluated their status since 1996 and based on climate change since then, they are probably closer to endangered/critically endangered rather than vulnerable (iucn)

Jennie’s Comment:  Okay, so this isn’t the cutest endangered animal, but it’s super cool. I just found out about this family of extremophile and wingless insects that live in the cold on top of mountains and I was so in awe of them. I think the last place I’d expect insects to be is near glaciers, but here they are, living their life. But as Purdue’s Entomology department notes in this video on the little guys, they are critically endangered and their habit is literally melting away.