The World’s Most Trafficked Mammal Just Got Desperately Needed Help
Proposals to ban international trade in pangolins received support from a body charged with helping to conserve wildlife.
Johannesburg, South AfricaThings have suddenly looked up for pangolins, cat-size scaly creatures found across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The body that regulates international wildlife trade voted Wednesday to shut down sales of pangolins and their parts across borders.
“This decision will help give pangolins a fighting chance,” says Sue Lieberman, vice president of international policy for the Wildlife Conservation Society, a nonprofit based in New York City.
Some 3,000 government representatives and conservationists are in South Africa this week to discuss how to best save the animals through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the body, composed of 183 governments, that sets wildlife trade policy.
The discussion to ban trade in all eight species of Asian
