How Much is Pangolin in Namibia

What is Pangolin?

Pangolins are a group of Asian and African mammals that are covered in hard scales, curl up into a ball to defend themselves, and are sadly the most heavily trafficked animal in the world. They’ve got small heads but long snouts and even longer tongues for slurping up ants from inside ant nests, leading some people to call them scaly anteaters.

How much is a pangolin worth in Namibia 2021?

However, within Namibia the value of a Cape pangolin can be as little as 20 US$.

How much is a pangolin skin worth in Namibia 2021?

When threatened, pangolins curl into a ball, using the scales as armor to defend against predators. The scales can cost more than $3,000/kg on the black market.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)

What is pangolin used for?

Tens of thousands of pangolins are poached every year, killed for their scales for use in traditional Chinese medicine and for their meat, a delicacy among some ultra-wealthy in China and Vietnam. There are eight species of pangolins.

Are there pangolins in Namibia?

Only one species of pangolin occurs in Namibia, Temminck’s ground pangolin Smutsia temminckii, also known as the Cape pangolin and the scaly anteater. In recent months, there has been a marked increase in the illegal capture, killing and trade in pangolins in Namibia for the international markets in Asia.

Why is the pangolin the most trafficked animal?

Pangolins — two species of which are endangered and all of which are protected by international treaty — are trafficked by the thousands for their scales, which are boiled off their bodies for use in traditional medicine; for their meat, which is a high-end delicacy here and in China; and for their blood, which is seen as a healing tonic.

Are pangolins dangerous?

Their scales are dangerous weapons

Pangolins use their scales as tools for self-defense. If threatened, the pangolin will perform a cutting motion with its scales if anything is inserted between them—that’s a nasty shock for a strange paw or snout!

Can pangolin scales cure cancer?

People believe the scales cure arthritis and cancer, promote breast-feeding for lactating mothers, improve poor circulation, and even enhance male vitality — despite no scientific backing for any of these “cures.” In fact, pangolin scales are made of keratin — the same material in human fingernails.

What is pangolin blood used for?

In Asia, pangolin scales, blood, and fetuses are used to purportedly treat conditions like liver problems, skin issues, palsy, and swelling, despite the fact they lack any medicinal or therapeutic value.

Do pangolins carry leprosy?

No, pangolins do not carry leprosy and have never been known to have the M. leprae bacterium responsible for the disease.

How are pangolins killed?

Their armor-plated scales can cut and inflict serious wounds on a lion, leopard, or hyena — but are no match for a weapon-wielding human. Poachers simply pick pangolins up and drop them into a bag. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world — poachers kill as many as 2.7 million African pangolins every year.

How much does a pangolin cost as a pet?

This makes it clear that their businesses are booming and that they can afford to splurge. They pay up to $1,000 for a live pangolin and $300 per kilo for the meat.

Do pangolins attack humans?

These animals are shy and will not attack humans. Do not touch, chase or corner them, as they will be frightened from your approach.

What is the biggest pangolin ever found?

The giant pangolin is the largest of all pangolin species. While its average mass has not been measured, one specimen was found to weigh 33 kg (72.6 lb). Males are larger than females, with male body lengths about 140 cm (4.6 ft) and females about 125 cm (4.1 ft).

How long can a pangolin live for?

Babies nurse for three to four months, but can eat termites and ants at one month. Infant pangolins will ride on the base of the mother’s tail as she forages for insects. It is unknown how long pangolins can live in the wild, though pangolins have reportedly lived as long as twenty years in captivity.

Why are pangolins so special?

In China and Vietnam, pangolins are highly prized by consumers for their meat and their unique scales. While they are a potent defence against predators, their scales are useless against poachers, and all eight species in Asia and Africa are now under threat.

Are pangolins bulletproof?

Pangolin scales are trafficked for use in traditional Chinese medicine and so strong they are used to make crude bulletproof jackets as well.

Do pangolins stink?

Similar to skunks, pangolins can secrete a foul smelling odour from the glands near their anus, which they use to mark their territory as a deterrent. Pangolins are nocturnal and have poor eyesight, relying on their hearing and sense of smell to locate their prey at night.

Do pangolin lay eggs?

There are the monotremes, egg-laying mammals like the platypus and the echidna, which branched off from the mammal family tree back when egg-laying was the norm, and never lost that trait. The pangolin may look much like an echidna, but they are not closely related

How many scales does a pangolin have?

The number of scales on the Sunda pangolin has been estimated at approximately 900 to over 1000.