On March 17, Customs officials seized about 2,000 kilograms of pangolin scales from a container in Kwai Chung.
The scales, which come from an endangered pangolin species, are believed to be worth HKD10 million.
Found in Africa and Asia, pangolins are adorable animals that roll up into balls when scared.
Unfortunately this defense mechanism does not save them from poaching, as their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine while their meat is eaten in both Africa and Asia.
The shipment, which arrived from Nigeria, was selected for inspection through Customs officials’ “risk assessment”, which probably means they are suspicious of anything arriving from Africa, because this is Hong Kong.
Officials found 44 undeclared bags of pangolin scales in the container.
In June 2014, Hong Kong customs made its largest seizure of pangolin scales in five years after finding three tonnes, worth HKD15.5 million, arriving from Kenya, according to AFP.
All four species of African pangolins are classified as vulnerable of extinction, while the four species of Asian pangolins are either endangered or critically endangered.
Any person found guilty of illegally importing animal parts protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species is liable to a maximum fine of HKD50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Photo: Ruslan Rugoals via Flickr
