This is the exotic creature you’d probably never heard of until earlier on this year.
The pangolin, a scaly mammal that looks like an anteater, is believed to be a factor in the leap of the coronavirus from animals to humans at a market in Wuhan, China, last year after one was infected by a bat.
This notoriety could actually now turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
There are eight species, four in Africa and four in Asia – all at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Of the Asian species, two are critically endangered.
They are illegally hunted and traded for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in some south-east Asian countries such as China and Vietnam.
Their scales are used in traditional medicine despite there being no scientific proof of their therapeutic value.
As a result, these shy, nocturnal mammals, covered in hard protective scales made of keratin – the same material as our nails – are now the world’s most trafficked animal.
Back in 2016, the international trade in pangolins was entirely banned by the 183 nations which have signed up to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
But despite all species being given the strictest protection possible, the illegal trade continued, often with shipments of scales shipped out to Asia via Nigeria – the largest trade hub in Africa.
An investigation into trafficking found the West African country was linked to 55% of pangolin scales seized globally between 2016 and 2019.
Just last month, Malaysian port authorities seized six tons of pangolin scales hidden inside a container of cashew nuts and smashed a smuggling syndicate.
Another bust last year saw scales worth $40million (£32m) on the black market seized in Singapore.
While pangolins and other bushmeats like bats were on sale in markets in Libreville in Gabon last month, sales quickly dropped as news of the pandemic spread.
A ban on the sale and consumption was also introduced on April 3. China, the biggest consumer, has also introduced a ban on eating wild animals.
While the matter of whether this species contributed to the Covid-19 outbreak won’t be settled soon, the publicity might be crucial to ending its trade.
It won’t be just pangolins that benefit. The realisation wildlife markets allow diseases to spread will not only reduce demand for illegally traded species but will help protect us from future pandemics
