I’m far from an expert on endangered animals, but based on general knowledge and the occasional zoo visit, I was sure I could guess the animals that poachers target.
Shark (fins)… Rhino (horns)… Elephant (tusks)?
Perhaps tigers and crocodiles for rugs and handbags?
Well, as it turned out, there was one glaring omission.
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world
Pangolins are bizarre little creatures: mammals the size of a small cat, yet covered with scales like a crocodile.
When threatened, they curl up into a ball for protection—which works for its natural predators but ironically makes it easier for poachers to catch them.
They are also the most trafficked mammal in the world, despite the international ban on its trade.
Pangolin rescued from poachers and in rehabilitation © Xiao Shibai / Wild Wonders of China / WWF www.wildwondersofchina.com
Why is there a demand for pangolins? That’s because their scales are used in traditional medicine while their meat is a prized delicacy in parts of South East Asia.
As I’ve never seen a pangolin on sale before in Singapore and was doubtful about how popular they were among poachers overseas, I decided to investigate if it’s possible to acquire pangolin products on the Internet.
In case you were wondering, it is illegal to import or export these products in Singapore as legislated in our Endangered Species Act.
Finding pangolin products on the Internet
When I did an online search, I was redirected to legitimate websites providing basic info about pangolins and their conservation. Most likely, the search engines had filtered out the sites peddling illegal pangolin products.
However, when I dug deeper using some lesser used search engines, it was shocking to find a number of links to these illegal sites operating internationally.
An online shop selling pangolin products regionally even promised to “supply to you in large scale and small scale”.
This felt uncomfortably similar to e-commerce platforms where we would typically shop for IT products, clothes and sundries.
Image via illegal pangolin products website
I then tried searching for pangolin products on social media platforms.
Unfortunately, searching for “pangolin” yielded photos posted by pangolin supplier groups, with the ones we found based overseas.
Image via illegal pangolin products listing on social media
This photo, in particular, linked me to a social media group which promises “the best qualities of Pangolin and Pangolin scales at good and affordable prices. Ready to be ship(ped) at any time and any location with best transportation means”.
Image via illegal pangolin products listing on social media
After 30 minutes of research, I was left feeling a mixture of shock and concern.
I would never have imagined how pervasive the illegal pangolin trade was, such that it intruded into our online spaces. That definitely hit a lot closer to home.
Sunda Pangolins are native to Singapore and can be found in our nature reserves and other forested areas.
In the past three decades, their status went from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered on the The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, just a step away from extinction.
Pangolins made headlines in Singapore in 2019, when shipments of pangolin scales from Africa en route to Vietnam were seized locally.
What’s alarming is that the scales were valued to be more than S$100 million.
While this seizure was a huge win, plenty of these illegal shipments can potentially go undetected.
The tougher battle, though, may be online.
The Internet has become an attractive platform, making Illegal Wildlife Trade possible with a click, pay, and ship process.
The big draw for buyers and sellers of course, is remaining anonymous.
So…how is this online battle fought?
The Cyber Spotters trained by WWF-Singapore
Thanks to WWF-Singapore (World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore), I had the privilege to hear some insights from a Cyber Spotter volunteer (whom I’ll refer to as Surfer).
For the uninitiated, Cyber Spotters are volunteers who identify and report online listings of illegal wildlife products.
Image via WWF-Singapore website
Surfer shared that they have been volunteering with WWF-Singapore since March 2022, and this is their second time volunteering with the programme.
When asked about how many illegal listings they find a day, Surfer shared that they “usually manage to find about 10-15 per day” and on some days, they manage to “find some unique listings such as a live pangolin on sale or wild cat skin, etc.” These listings are based in various countries throughout the region.
While I’m not a Cyber Spotter myself, it’s clear that they carry out their tasks with a genuine passion to eradicate such illegal wildlife listings.
A bit like pest control for the Internet, perhaps.
WWF-Singapore shares that volunteers will need to undergo compulsory training to identify and report these suspicious products.
After which, WWF-Singapore will review the listings and share these listings with e-commerce companies and law enforcement for further action.
When asked about what keeps them going, Surfer shares:
“If we as individuals don’t step up to save our animals, very soon we may not be left with any. The responsibility falls on each and every one of us to stop the destruction and misuse of wildlife.”
As a whole, the research and interview process was an eye-opening experience, shedding light on the plight of these innocent animals.
While it leaves me with a new burden in my heart, I’m glad that there are organisations like WWF-Singapore and people (like Surfer) who strive to make the world (and the Internet) a safer place for our endangered wildlife species.
Feeling a burden in your heart too?
You can make a donation to WWF-Singapore by symbolically adopting a Pangolin.
You will receive a range of member-exclusive benefits, but more importantly the satisfaction of being part of the work to save these animals.
Your donation will support WWF-Singapore’s work with the e-commerce industry, and the training of Cyber Spotters to detect and prevent these illegal wildlife products from being sold through online platforms and more.
Enjoy member-exclusive benefits when you symbolically adopt a pangolin.
For more information on WWF-Singapore’s Pangolin Adoption Programme and how you can support them, you can click here.
This is a sponsored article by WWF-Singapore.
Top image via illegal pangolin products website.