September 1, 2016

Did you know that there are scaly mammals? The pangolin's body is covered in keratin scales (your hair and nails of made of that same material). When threatened, the pangolin can roll up in a ball. Don't confuse that with the armadillo which has a leather shell made of plates of dermal bone. The pangolin is hunted for bushmeat and medicine. Because of hunting and deforestation, many species of pangolin are endangered. Despite international efforts to ban pangolin scale and meat trade, illegal trafficking still exists in East Asia (and Africa) due to the belief that pangolin scales can cure cancer and help with lactation issues. Despite several Chinese medicinal experts listing other herbs that have the same effect, demand for pangolin scales has only grown.