On November 21, 2024, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), in collaboration with the Uganda Police and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), following a credible tip-off from members of the public arrested four Chinese nationals and recovered illegal wildlife products, smuggled goods and cash which facilitate illicit trade at their residence in Naguru, Kampala. The suspects were found in possession of 9.4 kilograms of pangolin scales, and two skinned pangolin carcasses. The authorities say that about 42 tree-climbing pangolins were killed to obtain these scales. (UWA statement read)
These scaly anteaters are critically endangered and at a risk of being wiped out, if nothing is done in the next couple of years. Said differently, if you have a child in pre-primary class, by the time they reach tertiary institution or university. They will have no chance of seeing these wonders of nature if we don’t combat wildlife crime.
Besides that, have you ever wondered how important these scaly creatures are and how they can contribute to food security today? With Pangolins we would not need to spend on pesticides in our gardens or bear the effects that come with them when we eat such foods. Pangolins are great ants/termite eaters. They help regulate the insect population more sustainably and effectively. Any farmer will tell you the havoc that termites can have on their crops or tree seedlings. Pangolins are burrow creators and help turn over organic matter and contribute to soil aeration as they go about their lives in the wild.
As the world recovers from the effects of COVID-19, which person wants to experience an economic and geopolitical shutdown again? Simply put, Pangolins host parasites and naturally keep them in the wild, without human interruption. Human greed is forcing us to establish contact through hunting, killing and packaging their meat, scales and other parts for markets to satisfy their demands. The handlers in range areas may not even use protective and safety gear. Handling them with hands will surely facilitate these parasites or disease jumping from animals to people/ humans. Who knows how this whole thing may turn out? We could perharps witness an even worse epidemic than COVID-19, Ebola, Murburg Virus etc. If we keep them wild, we will surely keep ourselves safe.
In Uganda, we have clans and totems linked to pangolins (Olugave) or Okong. Many young and old people have not had a chance to see their totems. This is an indication of how rare and endangered these creatures are.
Communities that live near lion range areas often cry about how African (Panthera leo) invade their livestock. Pangolins are prey for lions and therefore helping them thrive in these habitats will certainly be a game changer for lion recovery and reducing human-lion conflicts (livestock) in some way. Our next of kin, Chimpanzees occasionally need some animal protein and pangolins will certainly serve the purpose. In all this, pangolins have a chance to escape by rolling themselves into a ball-like structure and using their scales for protection! Of course, wildlife populations depend on each other in a predator-prey relationship.
Imagine the revenue that Uganda will lose in tourism, just by people leaving their homes to see and learn about these nocturnal creatures, and no return business since the attraction no longer exists! The chance of seeing them in the wild is a story for another day, aware that they are nocturnal/active in the night. But with 42 individuals lost in the illegal wildlife trade, how many more may be successfully smuggled?
However, all is not lost. We can help conserve these incredible creatures by reporting and bringing to book perpetrators of such crimes. If we watch criminals make money and think that it’s not our duty, we would be wrong. Today are pangolins, elephants, rhinoceros, hippopotamuses etc, tomorrow could be that these criminals change businesses to arms dealing, terrorism or money laundering which will jeopardise the economy, safety and security for all of us. Don’t keep quiet when you see suspicious and dubious activities, people or transactions. Report to the authorities. You could be that one person who saves humanity from catastrophe!
The USAID/Uganda Combating Wildlife Crime Activity with support from the American people, in collaboration with other stakeholders in Uganda, supports activities aimed at making IWT a risky venture, stopping the killing and suffocating the demand, and ensuring successful prosecution of the perpetrators. This will ultimately contribute to wildlife population recovery in our time.
Through this, we can ensure that wildlife species are conserved for posterity.