Washington, D.C. — Born Free USA, a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, will promote World Pangolin Day on Saturday, February 20 to raise awareness for pangolins: the most illegally-traded mammal in the world.[teaserbreak]
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and Born Free Foundation, “It is estimated that more than 960,000 pangolins were illegally traded over the past decade. Most illegally sourced pangolins are destined for markets in China and Vietnam, but demand for pangolins in the United States remains significant. At least 26,000 imports of pangolin products were seized in the United States between 2004 and 2013.”
The pangolin’s only defense mechanism against predators is to roll into a ball, which actually makes it easier for humans to simply pick up the helpless animal. Humans are the pangolin’s top predator, and at least one pangolin is estimated to be killed every hour in Asia. All eight species of pangolins are in danger, and the two most endangered pangolin species may go extinct within only 10 years. Pangolin meat is considered to be a luxury product in China and Vietnam and their scales, blood, and fetuses are used in traditional Chinese medicine (despite an absence of scientific evidence to support the alleged medicinal benefits).
Born Free USA is asking the public to support World Pangolin Day and help save pangolins in three ways:
- Share this pangolin GIF on social media and urge followers to do the same. Use the hashtags #WorldPangolinDay and #SavePangolins.
- Sign this petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, asking it to list the seven remaining pangolin species under the Endangered Species Act. Born Free is among the lead petitioners. (One species of pangolin is already listed.) And, share the petition on your social media pages.
- Help rescued pangolins by purchasing a t-shirt. All proceeds will be donated to Tikki Hywood Trust, a pangolin rehabilitation and rescue center in Zimbabwe.
“Time is running out for pangolins and they desperately need our help,” Roberts continued. “Born Free staff will do all it can globally to save the imperiled pangolin before it’s too late.”
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation”—the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son, Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com