WILDLIFE OFFICERS RESCUE PANGOLIN

Fri, 27 Oct 2017 11:52:37 +0000

By Mukosela Kasalwe

A JOINT operation between the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Crime Prevention has led to the rescue of the much sought after pangolin wrongly believed to contain medicinal properties which was illegally traded by suspected criminals in Lusaka.

Wildlife Crime Prevention awareness manager, Luwi Nguluka said working in conjunction with Department of National Parks they conducted an operation which resulted in the arrest of two suspects trading in the illegal trade of pangolins for a profit making venture.

She said the pangolin was the most trafficked wild animal in the world accounting for as much as 20 percent of all illegal wildlife trade.

Ms Nguluka said in an interview yesterday, that the operation saved the 12-kilogram pangolin which was transported to Kafue National Park where it was released by Department of National Parks and Wildlife officers. She said Zambia was home to a significant but threatened pangolin population and that people travel from all over the world to catch a glimpse of these reclusive animals.

“The Department of National Parks and Wildlife have successfully conducted an operation that has led to the rescue of a pangolin which was illegally traded by suspected criminals in Lusaka.

The pangolin was smuggled into Lusaka illegally for profit making and resulted in the arrest of two suspects,” she said.

Ms Nguluka said pangolins were trafficked primarily for their scales erroneously believed to have medicinal qualities.

She however dispelled the assertion saying the scales were made from keratin which was the same protein that forms human hair and fingernails and contains no medicinal value.

Ms Nguluka said under the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015, the penalty for the illegal possession of a pangolin was between 5 to 10 years imprisonment.

She said the Wildlife Crime Prevention working alongside the Department of National Parks and Wildlife would ensure nationwide conservation of wildlife and habitats.