Call for Action Giant pangolin/Giant ground pangolin (Manis gigantea) • The Cameroon Government supported uplisting all The giant pangolin is the pangolins to Appendix I of CITES. This uplisting largest living pangolin went into effect on January 2, 2017, prohibiting all species, weighing up to 35 kg. commercial international trade of pangolins. Apart from its size, it is easily Together Let’s distinguished from the much • The CITES uplisting provides an opportunity smaller tree-dwelling African Protect Our Pangolins for countries to show leadership in improving law pangolins by a regular scale enforcment and demand reduction efforts to better Photo: Ekwoge Agbe / Zoological pattern, fossorial lifestyle, Society of San Diego & Drexel protect pangolins. University and the lack of pads at the end of the tail, which aid climbing • We encourage MINFOF to make the Ministerial in the arboreal species. The giant pangolin inhabits moist Order No. 0648/MINFOF of 18 of December 2006 tropical lowland forests and forested swamps, but also widely accessible and understood by all actors occurs in mosaic habitats comprising forest and savanna. involved, and to update the Class A listing to reflect all three pangolin species and other species as necessary. White-bellied pangolin/Tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis) The white-bellied pangolin • Recent large seizures of pangolin scales carried out is the most frequently by MINFOF emphasize the urgency of strengthening encountered pangolin in enforcement and stopping those who poach, traffic, Africa. Compared to the sell, or consume pangolins at local, national, regional, giant pangolin, the white- and international levels. We applaud MINFOF’s bellied and black-bellied efforts to strengthen enforcement for pangolins. pangolins are much smaller Photo: Frank Kohn / USFWS • Government action alone cannot solve this crisis. Photo: Tim Wacher / ZSL in size, have very small first The involvement of local communities, NGOs, and forelimb claws, an irregular Pangolins are believed to be the most heavily the private sector is indispensible. Support from the arrangement of scales, tail pads used for climbing, and trafficked mammals in the world. Three of the extractive industries, especially mining and logging a long and prehensile tail. They have hair on the lower world’s eight species of pangolin live in Cameroon companies whose activities impact pangolins and their sections of their forelimbs, as opposed to scales. The and across Central Africa. Very little is known about habitats, is crucial. white-bellied pangolin inhabits lowland tropical moist them, and the illegal trade for their meat and scales forest and forest-savanna mosaics. is driving them closer and closer towards extinction. • Cameroon is taking important steps to protect our Unless we act now, we risk losing our pangolins. pangolins. Together with other Central African Black-bellied pangolin/Long-tailed pangolin (Manis Range States, Cameroon can play a vital role in tetradactyla) Recognizing the threat of international trade, the collaborating with Asian Range States to develop joint The black-bellied pangolin Cameroonian Government recently supported strategies to fight pangolin trafficking and reduce is the smallest and most the uplisting of pangolins to Appendix I of the demand for pangolin scales and meat. arboreal of all Central Convention on International Trade in Endangered African pangolin species. Its Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). tail is much longer than that According to Article 6 of the Ministerial Order of the white-bellied pangolin, No. 0648/MINFOF of 18 of December 2006, which reaching up to twice the classifies wildlife in Cameroon into three categories length of its body. Certain Photo: Rod Cassidy / Sangha Lodge (A, B, C) based on the level of threats, all species in physical characteristics CITES Appendix I are automatically listed in Class separate the arboreal white- A, which means that they are fully protected. bellied pangolin and black-bellied pangolin from the giant pangolin, including smaller size, very small first forelimb Recent large confiscations of pangolin scales by claws, irregular arrangement of scales, the presence the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) of tail pads used for climbing, and the length of the tail, emphasize the urgency in enforcing this law to Together Let’s Protect Our Pangolins! which is prehensile. The black-bellied pangolin chiefly ensure the survival of our pangolins. Facebook: PangolinSaver occupies moist tropical forest around rivers and swamps. Twitter: @PangolinSaver Learn more and help protect our pangolins! Pangolin Characteristics and Ecological Importance Threats to Pangolins Table 1: Details of selected seizures originating from Central Africa (reporting country in bold) Pangolins are the only mammals in the world with Pangolins are considered the most heavily trafficked scales. These scales are made of keratin, the same mammals in the world. Experts estimate that one million pangolins have been poached from the wild over Date Quantity TRADE ROUTE substance as human finger nails and rhinoceros horn. seized the past decade. All eight species - four in Africa and In response to threats, pangolins curl into a ball, four in Asia - are now threatened with extinction. Export Destination shielding their body with their tough armor of scales. Jan. 2017 5,400 kg Cameroon 1 -> China This behavior protects them from predators such as big In Central Africa, the main cats. Unfortunatley, it also makes it easier for humans to threats to pangolins are 2 collect them. poaching and trafficking to meet Dec. 2016 3,000 kg Democratic -> Thailand the demand from China and Republic of (final Central Africa’s three pangolin species are primarily Southeast Asia (see Table 1 for the Congo destination nocturnal, solitary, and shy mammals. They give birth recent seizures originating from Laos) to only one offspring per year and are highly vulnerable Central Africa). This illegal and Dec. 2016 670 kg Cameroon 3 -> Malaysia to overexploitation. unsustainable trade involves live animals; pangolin meat, which Dec. 2016 3,000 kg Africa -> China 4 Pangolins live predominantly on a diet of ants and is considered a luxury dish in termites. This specialized diet makes it extremely Asia; and pangolin scales, which difficult to maintain them in a captive setting. Longevity are used in traditional Asian June 23, 4,000 kg Cameroon -> Hong Kong 5 in the wild is uncertain. Individuals taken from the medicines. 2016 wild very rarely survive in captivity, usually no more 6 Jan. 26, 200 kg Cameroon -> Indonesia than 4-5 years, and typically die due to stress and/or Photo, above: Confiscation of illegal ivory and pangolin scales. Credit: LAGA / EAGLE Network Photo, below: Urban demand for bushmeat is exacerbating the decline of 2015 gastrointestinal problems. pangolins in Central Africa. Credit: Nancy Gelman / USFWS June 11, 2,340 kg Cameroon -> Hong Kong 7 Pangolins play a critical role in their ecosystems. They At the same time, Central African pangolin species 2014 provide the earth with all-natural pest control and are are under pressure from local and regional demand for 8 fantastic tenders of soil, and they do these things simply bushmeat. In Cameroon June, 1,360 kg Cameroon - Not reported 2014 through their everyday behaviors. It is said that a single and other Central pangolin consumes as many as 70 million insects per African countries, urban Apr. 14, 120 kg Cameroon 9 - Not reported year, mainly ants and termites. demand is exacerbating 2014 the illegal bushmeat Pridefully, Cameroon is home to three species, namely: Apr. 30, 50 kg Cameroon France Viet Nam trade, including in 2013 10 1) giant ground pangolin, 2) black-bellied pangolin, and pangolins. This might 3) white-bellied pangolin. Please see the back page of lead to drastic declines Apr. 29, 80 kg Cameroon Nigeria China 11 this brochure for more information on these species. in pangolin populations. 2013 Mar. 26, 180 kg Cameroon - Not reported 12 Legal Status of Pangolins Internationally and in Cameroon 2013 All eight species of pangolin are listed on Appendix I Est. 20,400 kg of CITES (The Convention on International Trade in total seized Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). This scales bans their commercial trade and represents the highest level of protection available under international law. 1 Source: Camer.be via allafrica.com 2 Source: dailymail.co.uk According to Article 6 of the Ministerial Order No. 3 Source: Breaking News Live via allafrica.com 0648/MINFOF of 18 of December 2006, which classifies 4 Source: shanghaidaily.com wildlife in Cameroon into three categories (A, B, C) 5, 7 Source: Hong Kong Government based on the level of threats, all species in CITES 6 Source: CITES Appendix I are automatically listed in Class A, which 8, 9, 11, 12 Source: LAGA means that Cameroon’s three pangolin species are now 10 Source: scientificamerican.com also fully protected by Cameroonian law. These laws Photo: Black-bellied pangolin. Credit: Rod Cassidy / Sangha Lodge are being actively enforced. Together Let’s Protect Our Pangolins!.