New MERS-Like Coronavirus Found in Pangolins Can Infect Human Cells
- Category
Environment
- Published
24th Feb, 2023
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Context
Pangolin, is confronting the perils of massive poaching and illegal trafficking in India.
About
About Pangolin
- Pangolin are also known as an ecosystem engineer for playing a role in land’s health.
- World Pangolin Day is observed on February 18, 2023.
- Pangolins are believed to be the only truly scaly mammals in the world.
- World Wildlife Fund records the animal to range from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.
- The species is listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
The most trafficked animal
- They are one of the most trafficked mammals in Asia and, increasingly, Africa.
- Pangolins are in high demand in countries like China and Vietnam.
- Their meat is considered a delicacy and pangolin scales are used in traditional medicine and folk remedies.
- All eight pangolin species are protected under national and international laws. But there is still growing international illegal trade in pangolins.
The numbers
- According to TRAFFIC, 1,203 pangolins have been found in illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018 to 2022.
- Up to 24 States and one Union Territory saw seizures of pangolins and their derivatives.
- Odisha reported the maximum number of incidents, with 154 pangolins in 74 seizures.
- It was followed by Maharashtra with 135 pangolins in 47 seizure incidents.
- The publication, titled ‘India’s Pangolins Buried in Illegal Wildlife Trade’, has tracked 342 total incidents during this time period.
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