Zimbabwe poachers target rare anteaters amid growing Asian demand for exotic animal parts
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
By Associated Press, Published: May 17
HARARE, Zimbabwe — An animal welfare group in Zimbabwe says poachers are now
targeting rare anteaters because of a growing demand for exotic animal parts
for Asian traditional medicine.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday
that the outer scales of a young male pangolin, a rare type of anteater that
is legally protected, were recently removed by poachers in northwestern
Zimbabwe.
The body of the anteater was recovered from poachers. The scales appeared to
have already been sold, the group said.
It was one of three incidents reported this year involving poaching of the
endangered nocturnal creature seen by many Zimbabweans as a symbol of power
and mystery.
The scales are thought to have value in Asian medicine as a traditional
remedy for a host of conditions.
Successful Pangolin Recovery
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE CIRCULATION
ZNSPCA MAKES THE YEAR’S SECOND, SUCCESSFUL PANGOLIN RECOVERY
THE ZIMBABWE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
(ZNSPCA)
156 Enterprise Road, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel:
znspca.org.zw
15th May 2012
Harare, Zimbabwe
ZNSPCA Makes the Year’s Second, Successful Pangolin Recovery.
The Zimbabwe National Society is pleased to report the successful
recovery of a female Cape Pangolin (Manis temmincki) on 11th May 2012
from Mudamusasa in North Eastern Zimbabwe.
Initial reports indicate that individuals had procured the pangolin
with the intention of re-selling it. The rescued pangolin was examined
by ZNSPCA veterinarians and assessed as healthy.
Following instruction from The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management
Authority the pangolin was handed over to The Tikki Hywood Trust. This
pangolin has now been fitted with a tracking device and released into
a safe, wildlife area.
(see image ZNSPCA1)
Earlier this year the Society made its first recovery of this species,
being a juvenile confiscated from a Mozambican National along
Zimbabwe’s north-eastern border. This young pangolin is currently
under rehabilitation at the Tikki Hywood Trust in Zimbabwe where it is
recovering well.
ZNSPCA remains gravely concerned at the increasing number of specially
protected species, such as pangolins, that are being poached within
the country. By way of illustration and in an incident dating back to
March of this year, game scouts in Sebungwe, North Western Zimbabwe,
recovered from poachers the remains of a Cape Pangolin. The scales of
the young male had been removed, reflecting the growing demand for
exotic animal parts particularly by practitioners and proponents of
Chinese Traditional Medicine.
(see image ZNSPCA 2)
The Cape Pangolin remains a specially protected species since 1975
under Zimbabwean Law and is also listed under CITES Appendix II.