Everyone has a part to play in conserving the pangolins. In addition to the laws and regulations already in place to inhibit the pangolin trade, here are some recommendations on what we could do to improve on the situation:
General
Education
Children can be taught from young to identify the pangolins as native animals unique to their country. They will grow up with pangolins as part of their national identity, and perceive the scaly anteaters to be a species that should be loved and cherished. Hence as adults, these children will more likely be proactive and supportive about pangolin conservation efforts and avoid consuming products, which they know are likely to harm the pangolin population.
Schools and relevant education bodies can also ensure that the schools’ curriculum includes lessons on the illegal wildlife trade. Children who are taught from young about the value of wildlife and their importance are likely to grow up with more positive attitudes about the environment and conservation.
Nanthini Elamgovan, a manager in the Parks Division in National Parks Board, adds that “educational material is essential to raise awareness and make an impression in [the public’s] minds about the illegal processes the pangolins go through. Educational methods should not hesitate to show negative images, which are in my opinion excellent for leaving a lasting impression.”
Opinion Leaders
There are still many misconceptions and false beliefs propagated about the many benefits pangolins’ scales, meat and blood contain. Such myths are spread by word of mouth via the older generation and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners, whose views and opinions carry a lot of weight among the people. Hence, many individuals continue to believe that pangolin products do have special medicinal benefits, even with news articles and reports stating the contrary.
To counter this, well-known opinion leaders such as government figures or celebrities need to step up and sway public opinion in favor of pangolin conservation. Such methods will give a face to the conservation movement, and is more effective than the nondescript articles and reports. Additionally, because opinion leaders are trusted, the public will be more likely to believe what they say.
Change in Government Laws, Regulations and Incentives
The current laws and regulations governing pangolin trafficking are ineffective in the sense that they only target the lower levels of pangolin traders- the local hunters and middlemen. The few kingpins suspected to dominate the thriving trade still remain at large. Hence, pangolin trading still continues but in a more secretive manner.
In order to impact the illegal trade significantly, authorities need to devise incentives that motivate the lower level traders to spill the beans on their superiors. This will allow the police to infiltrate the smuggling ring, crack down on the main warehouses and put the head honchos in jail.
Individuals
Against the billion dollar illegal wildlife trade and the daily decreasing forests, it may seem intimidating and even impossible for us as individuals to save the pangolins. But it is really not that hard. Every little effort we make goes a long way to ease the anteater’s plight.
Raising Awareness
Raising awareness for the pangolins does not mean that you have to join NGOs or outreach programs to spread the word. It can be something as simple as tweeting about an article you read on pangolins online, sharing a video on the pangolins’ plight on Facebook or simply telling your friends about it. “We dont care about what we don’t know.” Only after people become familiar with these scaly anteaters, will they then become concerned with pangolin trafficking and the implications of the illegal wildlife trade.
Citing Singapore as an example, Ms Elamgovan says that when most Singaporeans initially become acquainted with pangolins, they adore them- especially the babies because they are cute. “But this cuteness actually paves the way into them becoming concerned about these animals, and interested in finding ways to do their part.”
Raising awareness ensures that pangolins will not be overlooked by the public, the media, and by conservation efforts. Although public awareness does not directly affect the pangolin population because factors like habitat loss is not in our hands; the people can still put pressure on governing bodies and authorities to save their forested areas or nature reserves for the pangolins; instead of clearing the land for urban development. It will also motivate the authorities to clamp down on the illegal wildlife trade and enforce stricter regulations regarding pangolin poaching and trafficking.
Stop Consuming
As consumers, we play the most important role in creating a market for pangolin products. The trade in endangered species will always exist as long as people are willing to buy the products. Without the demand, sales of pangolin products will disappear simply because there is no money to be made. Once the monetary incentive is absent, poachers will no longer set out to capture wild pangolins by the thousands, and the species would finally have a chance to repopulate itself.
Don’t eat pangolin meat or buy pangolin products. No pangolin medicine, wine, ornaments, scales, leather or jewelry. When the buying stops, the killing can too.