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Kylie Knott

A rare pangolin has been caught on video in the wild in Hong Kong.
Threatened by poaching – for their meat and scales – and heavy deforestation of their natural habitats, pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. The animals are protected in Hong Kong.
Critically endangered pangolin takes walk on Hong Kong’s urban side
The pangolin was spotted this week in the New Territories by Hong Kong resident Steve Pheby, director of Hong Kong Hikers.
“I heard a rustling noise and thought it was a snake. I stopped in my tracks, focused my headlamp and was shocked to see it was a pangolin. Such a rare sight,” Pheby says, not wanting to give away details about its exact location.


The images and video, posted on the Hong Kong Snakes Facebook page, were met with excitement from nature lovers in the city.
“Amazing, the world’s most trafficked animal. Hope he stays safe. Great sightseeing,” wrote one.
“Oh My Gosh!!! That is sooooo cool! I am so jealous! Thanks for posting that!!” another post said.
“Amazing … How wonderful you got to see this one up close and personal … Stay safe pangolin,” wrote another.

There are eight species of pangolin found in Africa and Asia, two of which are critically endangered.
Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are reclusive and nocturnal animals that roll up into a ball when threatened. They are seldom seen in the wild, and are very hard to raise in captivity.
According to WildAid, an estimated 100,000 are poached from the wild every year across Africa and Asia. Their meat is considered a delicacy by some in China and Vietnam, while their scales and foetuses are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Pangolins are also used in traditional African bush medicine.

Seizures by Hong Kong’s Customs and Excise Department often make headlines. In June 2016, Hong Kong Customs seized more than 13 tonnes of pangolin scales from three shipments originating from West Africa.
Pangolin scales worth HK$17m found hidden in shipments from Africa
According to WildAid, an estimated one million pangolins have been traded in the past decade. Although there is no population data for any pangolin species, the levels of observed trade and the patterns of exploitation strongly suggest that all pangolin species are in decline and that trade is the primary reason.


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Environment

Pangolin spotted in Hong Kong – watch video of the mammal in the wild in the New Territories

The pangolin that was spotted in Hong Kong’s New Territories this week. Photo: Steve Pheby

Pangolin spotted in New Territories. Photo Steve Pheby

Hong Kong Customs detected on June 11 a sea-bound suspected cargo smuggling case and seized about 2,340 kilograms of pangolin scales from a container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. The Total value of the seizure was about $12million. This is the largest seizure of pangolin scales seized in five years. 16JUN14

More than seven tonnes of suspected pangolin scales uncovered at Hong Kong container terminal

The seized scales had an estimated market value of about HK$4.6 million. Photo: Handout

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY MARLOWE HOOD (FILES) This file photo taken on September 22, 2016 shows a Zimbabwe game reserve guide touching "Marimba", a female pangolin weighing 10kgs that has been nine years in care at Wild Is Life animal sanctuary just outside the country's capital Harare. Two studies published on January 11, 2017 by Britain's Royal Society nicely illustrate how Nature imposes choices that determine whether a specimen -- or a species -- will thrive, or just barely survive. Examining 647 types of mammals, Theodore Stankowich and Ashly Romero from California State University Long Beach discovered that those boasting impressive protective gear were also not the brightest of beasts. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai Njikizana

Lifestyle

Images and video posted on social media of the pangolin, the most trafficked mammal in the world, were met with much excitement from nature lovers across the city


Pangolin spotted in Hong Kong – watch video of the mammal in the wild in the New Territories

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Images and video posted on social media of the pangolin, the most trafficked mammal in the world, were met with much excitement from nature lovers across the city

Images and video posted on social media of the pangolin, the most trafficked mammal in the world, were met with much excitement from nature lovers across the city