Cameroon has burned more than three tons of the world’s most trafficked mammal, pangolin, skins and scales seized from smugglers according to a report by VOA.
The pangolin skins and scales were seized on three occasions at the Douala and Yaounde international airports, which led to the arrest of seven suspected smugglers currently in court answering to charges according to Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Philip Ngole Ngwese.
The Minister further added that the public in Cameroon has been educated that the Pangolins are totally protected under international laws and should never be killed.
According to Cameroon wildlife law, anybody arrested or found in possession of parts or the whole of a protected wild animal is presumed to have captured or killed that animal and is liable to a prison term of one to three years and or a 10 million CFA ($ 20,000) maximum fine.
Last September during the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, held in Cape Town, South Africa, countries agreed to protect pangolins from poaching either for food or pets.
