Recently, pangolins have been the subject of extensive scientific debate due to a theory that suggests the species could have played a significant role in the spread of COVID-19. In light of this development, many are questioning how pangolins could have harbored the disease which would have ultimately led to its mass spread in the Hubei province of China. To understand why many researchers have considered this species to be a viable host of the novel coronavirus, it is important to recognize how the pangolin made its way to the Huanan Market in Wuhan in the first place. Pangolins are land mammals native to the southern and eastern parts of Asia as well as Africa. As of 2020, all eight species of pangolin are considered critically endangered, with three species near extinction. To the surprise of many, pangolins are the most trafficked species in the world, with up to 200,000 being smuggled per year. There is a significant disparity in the data due to a lack of funding towards research and there are likely thousands more being trafficked in secret operations. So what makes these animals so desirable to poachers? Pangolins are often known as “scaly anteaters,” due to their easily identifiable by their large scales made of keratin, which can also be found in the tusks of elephants and rhinoceroses. These scales are highly sought after in traditional Chinese medicine and can be applied to treat skin diseases, hysteria in children, malarial fever, and even demonic possession. Likewise, pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in areas of China and Vietnam. Although these animals are able to defend against fierce predators, upon encounter with a poacher, pangolins curl into a ball, making it effortless to capture them. 2016 saw a huge increase in pangolin trafficking, as the weight per seizure in kilograms doubled. This trend, which persisted in the coming years, is a key element in the theory that pangolins infected humans with coronavirus. Scientists speculate that bats were, indeed, the original hosts of the novel coronavirus, a theory that has been consistent since the first cases were reported. Upon later research, the genetic material encoding for the spike protein, a critical segment of COVID-19 morphology, had been found in pangolins. This proved to be strikingly similar to the viral genes found in infected human patients. From that point forward, the theory of zoonotic* Coronavirus infection then included pangolins as an intermediate host. Considering that coronaviruses are known to infect mammals, bats and pangolins are both native to the area and are known to be sold in Chinese animal markets, there are multiple instances where the transmission of coronavirus from one species to the other is plausible. Whether or not this theory will prove to be true as further research is conducted, pangolins have been subjected to unwarranted poaching and captivity in horrible conditions. However, there is hope on the horizon. As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, pangolin trafficking has received increasingly more attention. The matter was brought to the Chinese government, which has since banned the trading and consumption of pangolins in addition to outlawing their smuggling. Although this act will diminish the use of pangolin remains for mainstream purposes, illegal trafficking will likely persist. Many non-profit conservation groups will continue their efforts to combat smuggling. Especially in these difficult times, it is critical that these organizations receive the support they need. Through a small donation or raising awareness on social media about pangolin trafficking, you can be involved in an initiative that will help save the lives of these animals and rescue them from captivity. Help support the cause and learn more: References:
Chinese Medicine and the Pangolin. 141 Vol. Nature Publishing Group, 1938. Print. "COVID-19 and the Environment." Geneva Environment Network, 6 June 2020, www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/updates-on-covid-19-and- the-environment/. Accessed 6 June 2020. Griffiths, James. "14 Tons of Pangolin Scales Seized in Singapore in a Single Smuggling Bust." CNN, 9 Apr. 2019, https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/08/asia/singapore-pangolin- smuggling-intl/index.html. Accessed 3 June 2020. Hatmaker, Taylor. "Facebook Users Are Buying and Selling Pangolin Parts, Even Though It's Illegal." TechCrunch, 6 May 2020, techcrunch.com/2020/05/06/facebook-exotic-animal- sales-pangolin-animal-trafficking/. Accessed 3 June 2020. Marshall, Michael. "Covid-19 – A Blessing For Pangolins?" The Guardian, 18 Apr. 2020, www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/18/covid-19-a-blessing-for-pangolins. Accessed 3 June 2020. Nguyen, Candice, et al. "Endangered Pangolin a Possible Link in Spread of COVID-19." NBC Bay Area, 19 May 2020, www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/endangered-pangolin-a- possible-link-in-spread-of-covid-19/2286449/. Accessed 3 June 2020. "No rest for pangolins: Trafficking rates spike." Wildlife Justice Commission. 15 Feb. 2019, https://wildlifejustice.org/no-rest-for-pangolins-trafficking-rates-spike/. Accessed 3 June 2020. Sutter, John D. "The Most Trafficked Mammal You've Never Heard of." CNN, Apr. 2014, www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/04/opinion/sutter-change-the-list-pangolin- trafficking/index.html. Accessed 3 June 2020.
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