How Coronavirus might save the pangolin

How COVID19 may save the species

Most people had never heard of pangolins before 2020, how a year changes things. Although their link to the spread of Covid-19 is still tenuous the fact remains that pangolins have been propelled to the forefront of our public interest in the most unusual way.

Pangolins look like otherworldly creatures from some bygone era and even among fellow mammals they appear completely out of place. Their bodies are almost completely covered by protective keratin scales making them resemble something that would look perfectly suited to prehistoric times. They are nocturnal, timid creatures that up until recently would have never been at the forefront of the public eye.

Unfortunately for the shy, innocent pangolin the pursuit and widespread use of keratin are far too alluring for the commercial forces that have led to dramatic fall in pangolin numbers worldwide.

Pangolin scales are typically made into medicinal supplements that are still widely used in many traditional Chinese remedies, mainly to aide arthritis. Keratin is also present in rhino horns and its illegal acquisition continues to fuel the demand for either traditional medicinal purposes or to create carvings or figurine, notably as religious totems.