The pangolin's extinction may arise from similar (scientifically unproven) beliefs. The animal's scales are simply made from keratin, the same stuff as fingernails and hair, meaning they should have little nutritional value, but practitioners of Chinese medicine believe that they can cure a number...
Confiscated pangolins “have been in stressful conditions, either obtained from bushmeat markets or hunters,” explains Miller. “They can go through capture myopathy – a buildup of stress that ends up damaging their heart muscles.” When that happens, animals may appear to be doing well...
That’s why National Geographic, along with Explorer Joel Sartore, is dedicated to finding solutions to protect them. Pangolins are up-and-coming symbols of conservation, but photographer Jen Guyton says she still meets people who have no idea pangolins exist. As part of a new project to high...
Extinction crisis: how can we end the illegal wildlife trade? “You don’t need to be an expert. You just give your best guess,” says ZSL project manager Kate Moses. “The result only goes through to the project scientist when 10 people have given the same identification.” Technology is...