16052400 Species Conservation

How effective have wildlife trade laws been in conserving the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) and the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica)?

There are four species of Asian Pangolin, all are at risk of extinction due to high levels of illegal and unsustainable trade of their skins, scales and meat (Challender et al. 2014a; Challender et al. 2014b). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), classified M.javanica and M. pentadactyla as ‘Critically Endangered’ in 2014 due to unprecedented declines, with populations estimated to have fallen by 80 and 90%, respectfully, in the last 21 years (approximately three generations) (Challender et al. 2014a; Challender et al. 2014b). Pangolins are evolutionarily distinct, as the world’s only scaled mammal, with their entire bodies being covered in hard, keratinised scales (Francis, 2008). Francis (2008) states that each adult pangolin consumes more than 70 million insects annually. This regulation of social insect populations means that Pangolins play an important ecological role in their habitats. It is difficult to estimate pangolin population levels due their secretive, solitary and primarily nocturnal behaviours (WCMC et al. 1999). Population trends have been estimated using known life history traits (e.g. slow reproductive rate & longevity) (WCMC et al. 1999), interviews with local hunters (Duckworth et al. 1999), habitat loss estimates (WCMC et al. 1999) and trade data (Broad et al. 1988; IUCN/SSC & WCMC, 1992).

M.javanica and M.pentadactyla have been included on CITES Appendix II since 1975, which restricts the commercial trade of species in order to monitor and create sustainable trade. (CITES, 2016). In 2000, CITES proposed that M. javanica and M.pentadactyla move from Appendix II to Appendix I to enforce stronger trade regulations (CITES, 2000). Instead member states voted for a full trade ban with a zero export quota on all wild caught Asian pangolins commercially traded (Challender et al. 2014a). How far has this trade ban enabled the conservation of these two species?

As populations fell and trade became illegal pangolin products were more sought after; termed the anthropogenic allee effect (Courchamp et al. 2006). Evidence from seizures suggests that the ban caused pangolin trade to spiral out of control, with over one million wild pangolins were internationally traded between 2004 and 2014. This statistic makes pangolins the world’s most heavily trafficked mammals (Challender et al. 2014c; Challender et al. 2015). Between July 2000 to July 2015, 264, 736 individual Asian Pangolins were seized by officials, suggesting that the CITES enforced trade ban (2000), has not been effective in slowing down either the rate of trade or of Pangolin decline (Challender et al. 2015). Unfortunately, many trades go unnoticed due to pangolin cargo being labelled as ‘frozen fish’, and the lack of law enforcement checking contents. The perceived rareity of this species drives trade (Courchamp et al. 2006), which is apparent in the alarming increase of pangolin scale price in China; from $45 per Kg (Wholesale) in China 1998 (Compton, 1999), to $132 per kg in 2006 (Wu & Ma, 2007; Xu, 2009), then staggeringly increasing six-fold to approximately $500 per kg in 2016 (Xu et al. 2016).

Trade bans and protective laws can only achieve a sustainable levels of trade if laws are enforced. Unfortunately, within Pangolin range states poverty and corruption is often rife, with local hunters being paid huge sums for poaching (Newton et al. 2008). Corruption often

16052400 Species Conservation

drives national park enforcers, wildlife trade officers and police to accept bribes and allow illegal trade to go unnoticed. Further support and training needs to be provided for these individuals to allow Pangolins to be conserved properly. The IUCN/SSP conservation specialist group has set out a conservation action plan aiming to provide local people alternatives to poaching, educating people about pangolins and trying to reduce global demand for scales (Challender et al. 2014c).

Another main conservation issue that needs addressing is the lack of reintroduction protocol surrounding seized pangolins. Many individuals end up being released at seizure sites, which spreads disease, reduces survival and increases re-capture rates (Sterling et al. 2006). ZSL’s EDGE programme is currently researching reintroduction and release protocols for M.javanica in Vietnam (EDGE, 2015). Further work on population levels and densities needs to be assessed across Asia to determine ‘pangolin strongholds’ which can be given higher protection by the government and NGO’s to prevent hunting, poaching and habitat destruction (Challender et al. 2014c).

Overall, the CITES (2000) ban on Pangolin trade, has not been effective in conserving these species. Education and demand reduction are the two most important tools for conservation, in this instance. The most important action that CITES (2000) could have made was moving M.javanica and M.pentadactyla from Appendix II to Appendix I, as in September 2016, which would have made data from exports and imports more controlled and may have kept the price and demand of scales at a reasonable level. It is always difficult to tackle wildlife trade when dealing with different cultures and people’s livelihoods. The emphasis should be on encouraging locals to work with conservation teams to reduce the levels of poaching, trade and overall scale demand.

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References:

Broad, S., Luxmoore, R. and Jenkins, M. (1988). ‘Significant Trade in Wildlife: a review of selected species in CITES Appendix II.’ Volume 1: Mammals. IUCN/CITES.

Challender, D., Nguyen Van, T., Shepherd, C., Krishnasamy, K., Wang, A., Lee, B., Panjang, E., Fletcher, L., Heng, S., Seah Han Ming, J., Olsson, A., Nguyen The Truong, A., Nguyen Van, Q. & Chung, Y. (2014a) ‘Manis javanica.’ The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: version 2014.2. [online] [Accessed: 08 October 2016] http://www.iucnredlist.org.

Challender, D.W.S., Baillie, J., Ades, G., Kaspal, P., Chan, B., Khatiwada, A., Xu, L., Chin, S., KC, R., Nash, H., Hsieh, H. (2014b). ‘Manis pentadactyla.’ The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2014.2. [Online] [Accessed: 08 October 2016] http://www.iucnredlist.org.

Challender, D.W.S., Harrop, S.R., MacMillan, D.C. (2015). ‘Understanding markets to conserve trade- threatened species in CITES.’ Biological Conservation 187 pp. 249-259

Challender, DWS, Waterman, C, and Baillie, JEM. (2014c). Scaling up pangolin conservation. IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group Conservation Action Plan. Zoological Society of London, London, UK.

CITES. (2000). Amendments to Appendices I and II of the Convention adopted by the Conference of the Parties. (11), Gigiri, Kenya, 10 April - 20 April 2000. Geneva, Switzerland: CITES.

CITES. (2016). Consideration of Proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II at the Conference of the Parties (17), Johannesburg, South Africa, 24th September – 5th October 2016. Geneva, Switzerland: CITES.

Compton, J. in litt., to TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, 8 February 1999.

Courchamp F, Angulo E, Rivalan P, Hall RJ, Signoret L, et al. (2006) ‘Rarity value and species extinction: The anthropogenic Allee effect’. PLoS Biol 4 (12), pp. 415

Duckworth, J.W., Timmins, R.J., Khounboline, K., Salter, R.E. and Davidson, P. (1999). ‘Large Mammals’. In Duckworth, J.W., Salter, R.E. and Khounboline, K. Wildlife in Lao PDR: (1999) ‘Status Report’. Vientiane: IUCN-The World Conservation Union/Wildlife Conservation Society/ Centre for Protected Areas and Watershed Management.

EDGE ZSL. (No date) Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). [Online] [Accessed: 10 October 2016] http ://www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=1411

Francis, C. M. (2008). A Guide to the Mammals of Southeast Asia. p.392. Princeton University Press.

Ling Xu, Jing Guan, Wilson Lau and Yu Xiao (2016) ‘An Overview of Pangolin Trade in China.’ TRAFFIC Briefing paper pp. 2-3

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Newton, P., Van Thai, N., Roberton, S. and Bell, D. (2008). ‘Pangolins in Peril: using local hunters' knowledge to conserve elusive species in Vietnam’. Endangered Species Research (6) pp. 41-53.

Sterling E.J, Hurley M.M, Le M.D (2006) Vietnam — a natural history. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT

WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre), IUCN Species Survival Commission, and TRAFFIC Network. (1999). ‘Review of significant trade in animal species included in CITES Appendix II: Detailed reviews of 37 species’. Draft report to the CITES Animals Committee. P. 205.

WCMC and IUCN/SSC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre and IUCN/SSC Trade Specialist Group). (1992). Review of Significant Trade in animal species included in CITES Appendix II. Detailed reviews of 24 priority species. Final report to the CITES Animals Committee, March 1992. Unpublished.

Wu, S.B. and Ma, G.Z. (2007). ‘The status and conservation of pangolins in China.’ TRAFFIC East Asia Newsletter (4), pp.1–5.

Xu, L. (2009). The Pangolin Trade in China. In Proceedings of the Workshop on Trade and Conservation of Pangolins Native to South and Southeast Asia, 30 June-2 July 2008, Singapore Zoo, Singapore. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.