Three men were found in illegal possession of a pangolin which they had hidden in a 25-liter bucket in the back of a bakkie.
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Africa is home to four of the eight remaining pangolin species in the world: the black-bellied, white-bellied, giant ground and Temminck’s ground pangolin. The other four are found in Asia.
Pangolins are hunted for their scales for use in traditional medicine. Pangolin scales are made from keratin, the same protein as human fingernails, and have absolutely no health benefits for the human body.
According to the Lethaba Herald, the men were driving along the Oaks Road to Sekororo village when they were intercepted by a SAPS task team.
The task team searched their vehicle and found the endangered animal. The pangolin has since been safely relocated to a nature reserve.
The trio were convicted and sentenced in the Lenyenye Regional Court to three years in jail each for possession of endangered species.
Before this, each man was out on R3,000 bail.
Read: Free-access documentary may become the most-watched ever
Image source: Kosie Lategan
You may also like
Related Posts
China’s National Health Commission has published a list of controversial coronavirus treatments that have animal...
read more
Warmer sea temperatures in the summer months, especially in February, were recorded and are believed...
read more
The latest report indexing the world's happiest countries has highlighted the important role of...
read more