Endangered pangolins rescued in Thailand

Nearly 100 of the rare scaly anteaters, worth about £20,000, were found in a truck bound for Vietnam or China Authorities in Thailand have rescued nearly 100 endangered pangolins worth about $32,000 (£20,000) that they say were to be sold and eaten outside the country. Head of customs, Prasong Poontaneat, says the anteaters were seized from a truck on Sunday evening in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan after a driver fled a checkpoint. Prasong says the driver was detained. Prasong believes the mammals might have come from Malaysia or Indonesia and were en route to either Vietnam or China, where many believe they can cure ailments and boost sexual prowess. The animals are protected by a convention on international trade in endangered species of which Thailand is a member. Thailand Endangered species Wildlife Conservation Animals guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 26, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.