Protecting pangolins in Liberia

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked animals, and their numbers are plummeting under pressure from poaching and deforestation.

Juty Deh Jr works at the Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary in Liberia. He explains that humans are the animals' only predator.

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."

Despite Liberia's government banning the hunting and sale of pangolins, it's battling a generations old tradition of Liberians eating this unusual mammal.

Known as the scaly anteater, pangolins are also hunted for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine. Highly valued in China and Vietnam, they can fetch over 350 dollars a kilo.

The majority of Liberia's population survives on under two dollars per day, and the economy's still recovering from civil wars and the Ebola crisis. Therefore, this ban on hunting, eating and selling pangolins in any form has fallen on deaf ears.

As a result, Wildlife Crime Task Force officers from Liberia's Forestry Development Authority have been deployed. They've initiated raids on markets where pangolin meat and scales are sold. Edward Appleton's assistant coordinator of the task force.

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."

The officers seize and burn any pangolin products. This represents a huge loss for hunters and sellers alike, whose anger's evident. The hunters, who need to remain anonymous, claim the government needs to open up new ways for them to earn a living.

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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