Whether or Not Malayan Pangolins Should be Wild Release? This is a Question That Should Not be Discussed at All!
Jinfeng Zhou
China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) - General Secretary
The question that should be discussed is how to implement wild release of Malayan pangolins and how to protect them! Every year, a large number of Malayan Pangolins are handed over by the law enforcement agencies to the wildlife rescue centers in the relevant provinces. Most of them die in just one or two months, and the remaining few are also dead in the cages.
This is a cruel, unbearable reality that is contrary to the ecological civilization! What is ecological civilization, protecting the pangolins, and avoiding them all dying, this is the minimum responsibility, and the critically endangered species should be protected in nature and play an ecological function! If Malayan pangolins are fully proved to be inoperable after being released in the wild in the Chinese mainland (in fact, the opposite is true), it is also important to establish mechanisms to return them to appropriate habitats in an instant. Just like our catalogue of endangered species, “need to go through the procedure, there is no revision”, the procedures that can't be completed in 20 or 30 years, are not accountable?!
The National Forestry and Grassland Administration is not allowed to carry out wild release in China. It should be shipped to Vietnam immediately to release it in the wild, is it ok? Over the years, countless Malayan pangolins have died in the rescue centers of the forestry departments. How many more years to discuss? How many more pangolins do you want to trap to death?
Sustainability Manager at Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
5yVietnam is a high risk country to Malayan Pangolins. They will be caught, sold and eaten as soon as they are released.
Blockchain technologies and Cryptocurrencies Enthusiast
5yNice and very informative peace of info.
Co-Chair at African Pangolin Working Group
5yOn the question of immediate release, we have found that all our pangolins come in compromised when confiscated from the trade. They should be immediately seen by a vet, to check the extent of the compromise. We don't hard release pangolins anymore and believe that the ones that were not under observation in an appropriate facility, for a time - at least two weeks - probably died. Further - we are using telemetry and our soft release into protected areas includes monitoring of the animal for up to at least 6 months afterwards and preferably up to a year. There will be stress relating to their capture and dislocation from their established home range, the fact thet they have probably not eaten or drunk anything for a time, and ultimately their release back into territory that they are unfamiliar with. Our vet Karin Lourens can advise.
Bridging the Divide. Got a gap? Hire a Biologist because there are many ways, but together we can find the better outcome, only if you are happy
5yThe best solution be to setup an in-situ facility that serves multiple functions. 1. Education & Awareness for visitors 2. Rescue & Holding Facility 3. Training Centre for capacity building on human-wildlife conflict issues. With DNA markers we should be able to map the marker distribution within the range. With this animals can some day be returned to the area where they originated from as they may have evolved minor but survival critical adaptations to the unique environments of their home range. I think this is a very important project that Elisa in East Malaysia is best positioned to lead. Thai from Save Vietnam's Wildlife would be the best source of information to build capacity on care. The facilities in all range countries must work collaboratively as a network so that similar facilities can be setup within the range. They provide both a staging post for rescues and releases as well as education and awareness centres for the public. I think China will have to take the lead in this as I surmise the bulk of the animals will end up starting their return journey there.