It’s a sad truth, but the more special and exotic an animal is, the higher its value will probably be to poachers and members of the illegal pet trade at large.
From ivory to rhino horn, there is seemingly no end to the lengths illegal black market buyers and sellers are willing to go to in order to get what they want. The results for animals are typically tragic.
When investigators with the Dave Shepherd Wildlife Foundation discovered a wooden crate in Zambia, they suspected something illegal might be inside. Then, they opened it…
There’s a sad reality plaguing the Earth’s rarest and most exotic of animals. Unfortunately, the more special they are, the more likely they are to be sought after by poachers and people involved with the illegal trading and selling of animals around the world.
Many exotic animals constantly face the possibility of being poached because of their unique features. This is why many animal rights activists do their best to ensure the safety of these otherwise defenseless creatures.
Investigators from the Dave Shepherd Wildlife Foundation in the African nation of Zambia experienced this firsthand when they found a suspicious wooden crate one day. Clearly, they assumed something illegal was inside, but when they opened it, they were stunned by what they saw…
Inside the crate was a pangolin mother and her baby. The high demand internationally for pangolin scales and meat makes these odd creatures one of the world’s most highly-trafficked mammals. For that reason, rescuers have to do their part to protect them to the best of their abilities.
In the last decade, an estimated million or more pangolins were illegally traded. And further research suggests that up to 233,980 were killed between 2011 and 2013. That’s a staggering number that will undoubtedly affect the overall population—and it’s why the rescuers desperately hoped they’d found the mother and baby in time to save them…
The DSWF explained that poaching, buying, and selling of these rare exotic animals on the black market has reached epidemic proportions. That’s why it was such a miracle that they were able to save this pair from a doomed fate.
The GRI Wildlife Crime Prevention Project, supported by DSWF, expected to release the pangolins back into the wild in Zambia’s Kafue National Park as soon as they were strong enough. For now, the plan was to continue nursing them back to health.
GRI Wildlife Vet Program member Annekim Geerdes said in a statement that the pangolins “seem to be eating, which is a great sign. They will be given a chance to eat and rest well again.” They’re optimistic that both will make a full recovery.
Luckily these rescuers were able to reach the poor pangolins in time. Otherwise, they would’ve inevitably become another tragic statistic in the exotic animal trade. Here’s to hoping that these poachers soon realize the damage they are doing to this unique animal’s existence.
These exquisite animals need the help of kind, brave humans to help them stay safe from poachers. Hopefully with, a little help, this amazing species will begin to thrive once more.
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