Protecting pangolins in Liberia

The international black market is destroying pangolin populations. Demand for the animals' meat and scales is causing the problem.

Pangolins have no defence from humans, says Juty Deh Jr of Liberia's Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary.

Juty Deh Jr: So naturally the pangolin don't have any predators - except we the humans. Because when he get afraid, he will roll into a ball. Rolling into a ball would actually save the pangolin, but it also make it easier for we the human to just pick it up and do anything to it."

New laws have banned the hunting and selling of pangolins in Liberia. However, bushmeat's a traditional part of local culture. The animals' scales are also important in traditional Chinese medicine. Demand from Asia has pushed the value of a kilogramme of scales up to 350 dollars.

The Liberian economy's still weak from civil wars and the Ebola pandemic, and many residents have less than two dollars a day to live on. In this context, laws which protect pangolins aren't a priority.

Now, the country's Forestry Development Authority has stepped in. Its Wildlife Crime Task Force is making surprise checks of markets. Officers supplement these tough tactics with awareness raising events. Assistant task force coordinator Edward Appleton believes both are needed.

Edward Appleton: The message is getting through to everybody. There were a lot of workshops, lot of awareness, and we've been saying this for a long, long time. For over three years we've been saying this. But, you know, the people are so stubborn, you know. If, there will always be law breakers, so, for us to do our job."

Discoveries of pangolin products are taken and burned. This move's met with anger from sellers and hunters, who feel unfairly treated. They believe that, without hunting, it's the government's responsibility to provide other opportunities to earn money.

Hunter: "It because of poverty - me go to hunt. Then they, when the government is saying that they, we boy stop killing any bear or this animal, they have to open a avenue for to get a job, so can get money to sustain our home."

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