The "List of National Key Protected Wild Animals", which has not been updated for thirty years, was revised separately for pangolins on June 5, 2020.

Approval for the artificial breeding and sale, purchase, and utilization of pangolins should also be increased from local to national competent authorities.

Regarding penalties, the next step is that pangolin has been upgraded to the national first-level protected animal, and the Supreme People’s Court should adjust the standard of sentencing circumstances. For example, the "serious plot" and "especially serious plot" involving pangolins should also be adjusted with reference to the quantitative standards at other levels.

In April 2019, the Wildlife Protection Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration commissioned China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) pangolin working group to revise the pangolin protection regulations to be released as soon as possible.

The pangolin scale carcass seized by the customs and forest public security is to be burned.

For live pangolins intercepted by customs, forest public security, reported by the public, and sent to the rescue center of the forestry system, social organizations involved in the rescue must be open and transparent throughout the entire process.

In March 2018, the Department of Forestry of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region replied to the CBCGDF that the death of 32 live pangolins in August 2017 were caused by highly pathogenic viruses. To the extent that the CBCGDF filed an administrative lawsuit for information disclosure, so far, the Guangxi Forestry Department has not disclosed any significant information concerning the public interest, such as inspection agencies, virus names, and inspection reports. Now the case has been accepted by the Beijing Higher People's Court.

On May 6, 2019, the country's first civil case for environmental public welfare due to the death of the pangolin was held in Guangxi. So far, there has been no result, and it’s hoped there is the result as soon as possible. Origin: In August 2017, the Department of Forestry of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region had received a batch of 32 live pangolins seized by the customs. After more than two months, all the pangolins died.

In 2019, CBCGDF filed a public interest litigation case involving the use of African Manis gigantea's scales for medicines and requested the amendment of the lost complaint. On March 12, 2020, CBCDFF finally received the case acceptance notice of Baoding Intermediate People's Court, it’s hoped to start the hearing as soon as possible.

With regard to the illegal approval of wild-type pangolins (A progeny of non-artificial breeding) from abnormal sources for artificial breeding by the Department of Forestry of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it violates the provisions of Article 25, paragraph 3 of the Wildlife Protection Law, causes serious losses to the interests of the country and the people.

According to Article 397, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law, the responsible personnel of the Department of Forestry of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are suspected of abusing their powers, and the CBCGDF pangolin working group will continue to report.

The forest and grass department shall publicly disclose the basis for approval and handling of 500 live white-bellied pangolins, Manis gigantea and other types of pangolins imported from Nigeria for artificial breeding; The implementation plan for the isolation introduction test; Legal source, and can provide effective proof, as well as whereabouts and current living conditions.

(Photo credit: The Beijing News)

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VC-V31dSMsuHqeE1o1ZcKg

By / Maggie, Wang Yanqing