What Does It Mean That the Pangolin’s Protection Level Been Upgraded to National Level One? (II)
2020/6/8 16:42:00 本站

Interpretation 3: What does it mean to upgrade the protection level?

 

- The approval authority for hunting will be raised, and the punishment for illegal hunting and transactions will be stricter

 

All species of pangolins have been upgraded from the national second-level protected animal to the first level, marking that the Chinese pangolins that are naturally distributed in China, as well as the Malayan pangolins and Indian pangolins that were once distributed in the country according to literature, will be more strictly protected.

 

This also means that everything will change from the approval of hunting to the punishment of illegal hunting and transactions.

 

According to China's current Wildlife Protection Law, due to scientific research, population regulation, monitoring of epidemic diseases or other special circumstances, it is necessary to hunt and catch the national first-level protected wild animals, it should apply to the wildlife protection department of the State Council for special hunting and catching certificate; If it is necessary to hunt wild animals under the second-level protection of the state, it shall apply to the competent wildlife protection department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government for a special hunting certificate.

 

"Pangolin is upgraded to the national first-level protected animal, which means that the authority to approve hunting will be raised from the provincial level to the national competent authority." Zhou Jinfeng said, at the same time, it is also recommended that the approval for the artificial breeding and sale, purchase, use, etc. of pangolins be upgraded from local to national competent authorities.

 

In terms of punishment, the Criminal Law stipulates that those who illegally hunt and kill precious and endangered wildlife under state protection, or illegally purchase, transport, and sell precious and endangered wildlife and their products under state protection, be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of up to five years or detention, and fined; If the circumstances are serious, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of more than five years and less than ten years and fined; If the circumstances are particularly serious, they shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of more than ten years, and shall be fined or their property confiscated.

 

As for the criteria for "serious" and "particularly serious", there are differences between the national first-level protected wild animals and the national second level protected wild animals.

 

For example, for wild animals protected at the national first level such as giant panda, snow leopard, crested ibis, illegal hunting, killing, transportation, and sale of one animal can be regarded as "particularly serious." For the pangolins, which were only the national second-level protected wild animals, eight were illegally hunted, killed, transported, and sold, which were deemed "serious", and 16 were illegally hunted, killed, transported, and sold, which were deemed "particularly serious".

 

"Now that the protection level of the pangolin has been raised to the first level, the standards for conviction and sentencing for illegal hunting and trading of pangolins must also be redefined." Sophia said.

 

"The protection level of the pangolin has been improved, and some of the corresponding protected areas will also be upgraded, and the local and national protection plans may be readjusted." Zhou Jinfeng said that this is undoubtedly a popular science for pangolins, which is conducive to enhancing public awareness of the protection of pangolins and even all wild animals.

 

Background: The upgrade of pangolin protection levels has been called for many years

 

It has been called for many years to improve the protection level of pangolins, formulate protection plans, and strengthen the fight against illegal hunting and trading. CBCGDF has included the protection of pangolins in the proposals and recommendations of the Two Sessions Meetings for three consecutive years.

 

As early as 2017, CBCGDF had suggested that pangolins should be promoted to the national first level for the protection of wild animals, as soon as possible, complete special investigations on wild populations of pangolins, and formulate and implement special conservation plans. At the same time, it is recommended to cancel the medicinal standard of pangolin and delete it from the pharmacopoeia, not to use scale tablets for pharmaceuticals; Stop the licensing of artificial breeding of pangolins, and establish a scientific thorough management system for the protection of pangolins.

 

In 2018, CBCGDF proposed that although the country has banned the consumption of pangolins, it still allows legal medicinal use, which brings many difficulties to supervision, and there is the possibility of laundering and smuggling pangolin scales. Therefore, it is recommended to strengthen the supervision of related pangolin products companies to prevent the use of loopholes to engage in illegal trade. At the same time, it is recommended that companies engaged in pangolin operations open source and quantity of inventory.

 

In 2019, CBCDFF once again proposed to raise the protection level of the national second-level protected animal pangolin to first level and cancel the use of pangolin scales in medicine.

 

On the eve of the Two Sessions Meetings this year, WWF also issued an appeal to upgrade the protection level of the Chinese pangolin from the national second-level to the first-level, enhance the rescue of the pangolin and the protection of their habitat, and severely crack down on pangolin poaching and illegal consumption, and increase punishment.


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A Chinese pangolin released to the nature by CBCGDF "Pangolin Girl" Sophia in Wuning County, Jiangxi Province, in late September 2019. (Photo credit: Wuning Wildlife Protection Station)


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Sophia checked the condition of the rescued pangolin with rescuers. (Photo credit: Zhang Youqiong)


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Sophia participated in the rescue of pangolins in Guangdong Province. (Photo credit: Zhang Youqiong)


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Sophia fed a rescued pangolin. (Photo credit: CBCGDF)


Original Chinese article:

https://view.inews.qq.com/a/20200605A0S8FN00?chlid=news_news_top&devid=6b02f4e15bf4a6da&qimei=ea60524b9c16fa06&shareto=wx


By / Maggie