Taking a stand against illegal wildlife trade: the Zimbabwean approach to pangolin conservation

Published source details Shepherd C.R., Connelly E., Hywood L. & Cassey P. (2017) Taking a stand against illegal wildlife trade: the Zimbabwean approach to pangolin conservation. Oryx, 51, 280-285.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Prohibit or restrict hunting of a species Action Link

Prohibit or restrict hunting of a species

A study in 2010–2015 in Zimbabwe (Shepherd et al. 2017) reported that banning the hunting, possession and trade of Temminck’s ground pangolins Smutsia temminckii did not eliminate hunting of the species, but enforcement led to a higher number of confiscations. After a nationwide ban on hunting, possession and trade in 1975, a total of 65 Temminck’s ground pangolin seizures were made in 2010–2015. The number of pangolins confiscated increased over this period from 0–1/six-month period in 2010–2011 up to 4–13/six-month period in 2014–2015. Of 53 live pangolins seized, 32 were released back into the wild. In 1975, the Temminck’s ground pangolin was given full protection on Zimbabwe's Specially Protected Species list. During the study period, all pangolins were listed in Appendix II of CITES. Pangolin seizure data for the period between October 2010 and July 2015 were compiled from information from Zimbabwean wildlife management authorities and courts, from the media and from an NGO.

(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)