Recently, Pangolin Working Group of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) learned from the video posted by the Procuratorate Daily official Weibo account that Wenzhou Municipal People's Procuratorate (hereinafter referred to as the Wenzhou Procuratorate) has tried a case of smuggling endangered wild animals with over 23 tons. They confiscated 10.65 tons of pangolin scales are estimated to be worth about 110 million yuan. CBCGDF applauds for the efficient work carried out by the Wenzhou Procuratorate. At the same time, we have noted that the personnel of the Procuratorate mistook the protection level of the confiscated tree pangolins. Therefore, on March 2nd, CBCGDF wrote to the Wenzhou Procuratorate for clarification.

Tree pangolin is in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To respond to the CITES, the national forestry department issued the Notice of the Forestry Department for Approving Partial Endangered Wild Animals as the National Key Protected Wildlife, incorporating wild animals of CITES Appendices I and II that are nonnative to China respectively into the list of national first and second-class protected wildlife. Therefore, the wildlife in the Appendix I correspond to the national first-class protected wild animal.

Tree pangolin originated from Africa, is nonindigenous to China and listed in the CITES Appendix I. According to the Notice, tree pangolin is classified as the national first-class protected animal.

All eight pangolin species are close to extinction. China is strengthening the efforts at pangolin conservation. In this context, the Pangolin Working Group of CBCGDF sent the official letter to the Wenzhou Procuratorate, hoping to join hands together for securing a promising future for pangolins.

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/11542.html

By / Wang Yanqing