The pangolin, incidentally one of the favourite animals of legend Sir David Attenborough, is one of the most aggressively trafficked creatures in the animal kingdom.
It is estimated that over 200,000 of them were killed in the space of two years.
They’re mostly hunted for bushmeat, which is wildly popular in some parts of their native Africa. The meat is also considered a delicacy in China and Vietnam, where it is under great demand.
Their scales are also highly sought after, due to the unfounded belief that they can be ground up and used to treat asthma and cancer in traditional Chinese medicine.
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