Protecting pangolins in Liberia

The illegal trade in pangolins is increasing. People hunt the animals. Pangolin scales are sold too. Their populations are decreasing fast.

Juty Deh Jr helps pangolins at Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary in Liberia.

Juty Deh Jr: So naturally the pangolin don't have any predators – except we the humans. Because when he get afraid, he will roll into a ball. Rolling into a ball would actually save the pangolin, but it also make it easier for we the human to just pick it up and do anything to it."

Liberia's introduced laws to stop hunting. It's banned the sale of pangolin scales too. But it's both a traditional meat and now a financial resource. Demand for pangolin scales in traditional Chinese medicine is high. A kilo of scales is worth 350 dollars.

The economic situation in Liberia is bad. The effects from civil wars and the Ebola pandemic continue, so the laws aren't very effective. Half Liberia's people live on two dollars or less a day.

Liberia's Wildlife Crime Task Force searches markets. They're looking for pangolins. It's part of the Forestry Development Authority's plan, along with education. Ideas are changing, says task force manager Edward Appleton.

Edward Appleton: The message is getting through to everybody. There were a lot of workshops, lot of awareness, and we've been saying this for a long, long time. For over three years we've been saying this. But, you know, the people are so stubborn, you know. If, there will always be law breakers, so, for us to do our job."

Any pangolin meat or scales which are found are burned. This gets an angry response from hunters and sellers. They're poor and need government support. They're asking the government to help them find work.

Hunter: "It because of poverty – me go to hunt. Then they, when the government is saying that they, we boy stop killing any bear or this animal, they have to open a avenue for to get a job, so can get money to sustain our home." View Less