The ecosystems of our planet are very carefully balanced schemes, and sometimes the role of a single species is so important that its extinction can bring widespread destruction to that system.

This is the fear currently gripping governments and ecological groups in Asia as the four pangolin toothless anteater species of the continent move near extinction because of rampant pouching due to insufficient multi-national legislation.

“Pangolins and their ecological role have been overlooked despite their potential ability to control termites and ants, which may save us millions of dollar per year in pest destruction.

Mr. Abdullah’s remarks were made during the proceedings of the Workshop on the Trade and Conservation of Pangolins Native to South and Southeast Asia. The objective of the workshop held earlier this month was the explore strategies to ensure that the pangolin populations remain in their natural habitats, and that illegal harvesting and habitat destruction are either eliminated or at least reduced to insignificant levels.

Chris Shepherd, senior programme officer at TRAFFIC, gave an overview of the problem saying, “The greatest threat to the conservation of pangolins is illegal hunting for trade, largely to supply demand in China for meat and scales, used for tonics and traditional medicines. Surveys in China have found pangolins (live or scales) to be commonly available in markets.”

Mr. Shepherd also cited a report which found that, “Countries closest to China have seen dramatic declines in the wild populations of the pangolins. The populations in Indochina have been largely depleted and traders are now required to search further in places like Indonesia and Malaysia to meet the demands in China.”

Concerns were also expressed by Mr. Shepherd that only four of the ten Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which are Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, have national legislation sufficient to implement the resolution of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), also known as the Washington Convention.

The convention was an international agreement between governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1973 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The resolution aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Concerning insufficient enforcement of the resolution, Mr. Shepherd said, “Until national legislation and enforcement is raised to the required standards under CITES, the full potential of the ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network to combat illegal trade in species such as pangolins cannot be realized. However, regardless of such measures being taken and 33 years after the formation of CITES, here we are, watching illegal trade push these unique species gravely close to the abyss of extinction.”

Recommendations during the working group for efforts to combat pouching included the following:

• Improving information sharing and coordinating efforts through the establishment of a formal Pangolin Working Group.
• Determining the sources of confiscated animals and monitoring trade dynamics.
• Raising awareness among high level government officials and the general public across nations.
• Building the capacity of government enforcement officers through the development of a Pangolin Enforcement Handbook, which would include: species identification, confiscation procedures, support networks, and legislation.

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