But most of their worth comes from their scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure everything from asthma to reproductive problems; even cancer. Experts aren’t sold on the healing power of pangolins, though. “Pangolin scales are made of the same stuff as your fingernails,” says Pepper at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
When we were researching we ran into the query “Pangolin scales why?”.
Here is what we stumbled across. pangolin scales, like rhino horn, have no proven medicinal value, yet they are used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with ailments ranging from lactation difficulties to arthritis. The scales typically dried and ground up into powder, which may be turned into a pill.
An answer is that pangolin scales provide good defense against predators . When threatened, pangolins can quickly curl into a ball, protecting their defenseless undersides. They also deter predators by hissing and puffing, and lashing their sharp edged tails. Pangolins, dependent on their strong sense of smell, identify their territories by scent marking with.
One source claimed Pangolin scales have long been used in traditional Asian medicine, and the meat is considered a delicacy in Vietnam, China and numerous other countries.
You should be wondering “Where does the demand for pangolin scales come from?”
We learned there are two primary countries responsible for driving demand in pangolin scales, meat, and other parts. China is a major importer and also a final destination of illegally obtained pangolin scales and meat as well as live animals. A significant amount of these imports go toward supplying the pharmaceutical and folk medicine industries (page 7).
Some have found that the scales typically dried and ground up into powder, which may be turned into a pill. For many years, the Asian species were the primary target of poachers and traffickers. But now that their numbers have been depleted, smugglers are increasingly turning to African pangolins.
Recently, though, demand for pangolin scales—used mainly in China and Vietnam for a variety of ailments—has grown to the point that geographic boundaries are blurring. Vast quantities of them are now being smuggled from Africa to Asia, despite an international trade ban on all eight pangolin species that went into effect in 2017.
Do pangolin scales have any health benefits?
Their scales, fetuses and blood are said to have “magical” medicinal properties. However, no evidence has shown that pangolin scales or other parts of the body offer health benefits. China, Vietnam and several other countries use pangolin scales for traditional medicine and consume the meat as a delicacy.
When we were researching we ran into the inquiry “Is it safe to eat pangolin scales?”.
Some sources claimed however, no evidence has shown that pangolin scales or other parts of the body offer health benefits. China, Vietnam and several other countries use pangolin scales for traditional medicine and consume the meat as a delicacy. In 2019, 123 tons of pangolin scales were confiscated by Chinese customs.
Why are pangolins so important?
Pangolins are also known as scaly anteaters. They’re the only mammals covered in scales, which can protect them from predators. Ironically, it’s these scales that are the driving force behind the illicit pangolin trade, which has put all pangolin species at high risk of extinction.
You might be wondering “Why are pangolins so popular in China?”
Some have found that pangolins are in high demand for traditional Chinese medicine in southern China and Vietnam because their scales are believed to have medicinal properties. Their meat is also considered a delicacy. 100,000 are estimated to be trafficked a year to China and Vietnam, amounting to over one million over the past decade.
While we were writing we ran into the query “How do pangolins protect themselves?”.
Some pangolin species even have semi-prehensile tails—they can grasp and hang from branches with their tails, which aids them in climbing. Pangolin scales provide good defense against predators. When threatened, pangolins can quickly curl into a ball, protecting their defenseless undersides.
What does a pangolin look like?
The pangolin’s scaled body is comparable in appearance to a pine cone. It can curl up into a ball when threatened, with its overlapping scales acting as armor, while it protects its face by tucking it under its tail. The scales are sharp, providing extra defense from predators.