Philippine Pangolin is Critically Endangered, threatened to be Closer to Extinct
Philippine Pangolin is listed as “Critical Endangered” species in the Philippines and threatened to be closer to extinction, IUCN claims.
Despite precautions being given for them, the Philippine Pangolin is in danger of being depleted. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently declared it as “critically endangered.”
According to the article of Inquirer.net, The pangolin has been listed as “endangered” for the past seven years and its recent reclassification to the IUCN threatened species list as critically endangered. It means that the extinction of the so-called “world’s most trafficked mammals” is imminent.
The said list – the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – is the “most comprehensive resource on global conservation status” of over 12,000 species.
According to Dr. Sabine Schoppe, leading the assessment and reclassification, said the increased attention given to Philippine Pangolin has come a long way in changing its destiny.
“Pangolins, including the Palawan pangolin, finally get the attention they deserve. Unfortunately, the attention came very late — at the time that the species is already facing extinction,” said Schoppe.
One of eight pangolin species in the world, Philippine Pangolin is one of the few families of anteater that have not much studied. It was recently described as a “distinct species” from its closest relatives – the Sunda Pangolin.
Philippine pangolin is endemic to Palawan, but just like other pangolin species, their numbers are rapidly decreasing due to illegal hunting and poaching due to high demand for their scales and meat.
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