The pangolin is the most poached mammal around the world, he lives in Ghana which is an important traffic area[1]. – Naïma Garcia-Casillas
Pangolin is an animal, more precisely, a nocturnal insectivore mammal[2]. Three species of pangolins are present in Ghana[3]. Their body is covered with scales and when they feel a danger, their defence method is to curl up in a ball[4]. Therefore, it is an important characteristic because it means it is easier for human to catch them[5].
Pangolins are interesting for African traditional medicine, Asian traditional medicine, ornaments and food[6]. Indeed, different parts of the entire body are used, at the same time, to eat and to heal ailments.
So, the pangolin is going to a depletion of resources, for various uses (food, medicine, ornaments, biodiversity). UICN’s red list qualified the three species present in Ghana as “vulnerable”[7].
Pangolins play an important role because of their use in traditional medicine, this last one is a big part of the healthcare system in Ghana[8]. Knowledge about laws and status as well as a method for counting pangolins in the country would permit to conserve this resource[9]. Maybe ecotourism in Ghana could also be a solution to save them. Indeed, through sensibilisation and information, the educational aspect of ecotourism might participate as a tool for the sustainable development[10].
Annexes
Annexe 1: Uses of pangolin
Pangolins are really used for a wide range of categories. They seem to have a good meat, but they also represent an expensive food[11]. The scales are used to create ornaments and if someone wear an ornament, it means that he has a lot of money[12].
There aren’t a lot of information about the uses in the traditional medicine[13]. But, according to the study of Boakye, Pietersen, Kotzé, Dalton and Jansen, various parts of pangolin’s body are used, particularly the scales (which are dominant), bones, head and meat[14]. Some people heal the rheumatism with the bones and the scales, the infertility with the head, “while the meat was used for preparing charms for chiefs or tribal leaders”[15]. The scales are manipulated, as well, “for spiritual protection”[16]. Thus, the body parts of the pangolin are implicated in a wide range of ailments healing.
Annexe 2: Threats
Various threats for pangolins population are discussed.
Based on the comments of Durojaye Soewu and Olufemi Sodeinde, the perception of the natural species is an important key factor to understand how people hunt pangolins[17]. Moreover, the benefit could be quite big, because the hunters sell the animal with a high price while the costs to hunt and to sell it are low[18].
The lack of knowledge and education about the laws or the protection status of the pangolins (and in general about conservation), play also a role in the exploitation[19].
Using pangolins for the medicine is also one of the reasons about the vulnerability of the species present in Ghana. It could be explained, especially, by the fact that pangolins are wild, so people just take them in the nature[20].
The way to exploit the resource evolve, now it’s more intensive way, with a commercial purpose[21].
Poachers also trades in Asia, where people use it for traditional medicine as well[22].
Finally, the deforestation could considerably reduce the habitat of the pangolin[23].
Notes :
[1] Knott, S. (2017). Pangolin trade forces Ghana to look at new wildlife law. Phys.org [online] https://phys.org/news/2017-10-pangolin-ghana-wildlife-laws.html [consulted on 30.05.2019]
[2] Challender,D. and Waterman, C. Etat global de conservation du pangolin. IUCN SSC Pangolin, 24 p.
[3] Durojaye, Soewu, A. and Olufemi, Sodeinde, A. (2015). Utilization of pangolins in Africa: Fuelling factors, diversity of uses and sustainability. International journal of biodiversity and conservation, 7(1), 10 p.
[4] Challender,D. and Waterman, C. Etat global de conservation du pangolin. IUCN SSC Pangolin, 24 p.
[5] Idem
[6] Durojaye, Soewu, A. and Olufemi, Sodeinde, A. (2015). Utilization of pangolins in Africa: Fuelling factors, diversity of uses and sustainability. International journal of biodiversity and conservation, 7(1), 10 p.
[7] Idem
[8] Boakye, M., K., Pietersen, D., W., Kotzé, A., Dalton, D-L. and Jansen, R. (2015). Knowledge and uses of African pangolins as a source of traditional medicine in Ghana. PLOS ONE, 14 p.
[9] Durojaye, Soewu, A. and Olufemi, Sodeinde, A. (2015). Utilization of pangolins in Africa: Fuelling factors, diversity of uses and sustainability. International journal of biodiversity and conservation, 7(1), 10 p.
[10] Kebir, L. (2019). Développement économique des ressources touristiques. Cours dispensé dans le cadre de l’enseignement du master en études du tourisme. Bramois: Université de Lausanne
[11] Durojaye, Soewu, A. and Olufemi, Sodeinde, A. (2015). Utilization of pangolins in Africa: Fuelling factors, diversity of uses and sustainability. International journal of biodiversity and conservation, 7(1), p. 1-10
[12] Idem
[13] Boakye, M., K., Pietersen, D., W., Kotzé, A., Dalton, D-L. and Jansen, R. (2015). Knowledge and uses of African pangolins as a source of traditional medicine in Ghana. PLOS ONE, p. 1-14
[14] Idem
[15] Idem
[16] Idem
[17] Durojaye, Soewu, A. and Olufemi, Sodeinde, A. (2015). Utilization of pangolins in Africa: Fuelling factors, diversity of uses and sustainability. International journal of biodiversity and conservation, 7(1), p. 1-10
[18] Idem
[19] Idem
[20] Boakye, M., K., Pietersen, D., W., Kotzé, A., Dalton, D-L. and Jansen, R. (2015). Knowledge and uses of African pangolins as a source of traditional medicine in Ghana. PLOS ONE, p. 1-14
[21] Durojaye, Soewu, A. and Olufemi, Sodeinde, A. (2015). Utilization of pangolins in Africa: Fuelling factors, diversity of uses and sustainability. International journal of biodiversity and conservation, 7(1), p. 1-10
[22] Knott, S. (2017). Pangolin trade forces Ghana to look at new wildlife law. Phys.org [online] https://phys.org/news/2017-10-pangolin-ghana-wildlife-laws.html [consulted on 30.05.2019]
[23] Idem