Three men were found in illegal possession of a pangolin which they had hidden in a 25-liter bucket in the back of a bakkie.
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. Africa is home to four of the eight remaining pangolin species in the world: the black-bellied, white-bellied, giant ground and Temminck’s ground pangolin. The other four are found in Asia.
Pangolins are hunted for their scales for use in traditional medicine. Pangolin scales are made from keratin, the same protein as human fingernails, and have absolutely no health benefits for the human body.
According to the Lethaba Herald, the men were driving along the Oaks Road to Sekororo village when they were intercepted by a SAPS task team.
The task team searched their vehicle and found the endangered animal. The pangolin has since been safely relocated to a nature reserve.
The trio were convicted and sentenced in the Lenyenye Regional Court to three years in jail each for possession of endangered species.
Before this, each man was out on R3,000 bail.
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Image source: Kosie Lategan
