Introduction to CoP17 Prop. 8 - CoP17 Prop. 12 Pangolins
There are eight species of pangolins, all in the genus Manis, following CITES standard nomenclature. Four are collectively distributed in South, East and Southeast Asia,
while four others are native to sub-Saharan Africa. All pangolins are currently listed in Appendix II, with wild-caught Asian pangolins traded for primarily commercial
purposes being subject to zero export quotas. The five proposals CoP17 Prop. 8 - CoP17 Prop. 12 seek to transfer all pangolin species to Appendix I.
High demand in Asia has clearly led to significant declines in populations of pangolins, in particular M. pentadactyla and M. javanica and an increase in demand forother Manis species, both in Asia and in Africa, to increase. Detailed population data on some species are scarce, resulting in insufficient information to determine if thesespecies meet the biological criteria for inclusion in Appendix I. However, there are indications that populations have shown significant declines, with high levels of illegal
trade recorded, and continual, and in many cases increasingly heavy demand and harvesting. While comparatively little trade in Asian or African pangolins has beenreported to CITES since 2000, large volumes of illicit trade have taken place, involving a minimum estimate of some 17,000 pangolins globally each year. In addition to
the large shipments being seized in East Asia, originating from Southeast Asia, there are increasingly frequent large shipments of scales being seized coming from Africa.
It is important to note that all pangolins in trade are wild sourced: there are no reliable reports of commercial captive-breeding which is extremely difficult owing to thespecies’ breeding biology and the extreme difficulties in keeping them alive in captivity. Pangolins are vulnerable to overexploitation owing to their low reproductive rates(producing only one or two offspring per year).
Concern over sustainability of trade reported to CITES, particularly in skins, led to the inclusion of Asian pangolins in various phases of the Review of Significant Trade(RST) process in 1988, 1992 and 1999, with recommended actions being made to various range States to control trade. The African species M. tetradactyla, M. tricuspis,M. gigantea and M. temminckii were also included in Phase IV of the RST in 1999 but were subsequently eliminated from the process. M. gigantea and M. tricuspis
were again selected for the RST as species of priority concern in 2013.
Despite going through the RST processes multiple times, and having the zero quota with Appendix II, illegal trade seems to have continued unabated for the Asian species.
So far these processes have failed to provide any notable protection from unsustainable harvest and trade of these species and an Appendix I would be a precautionary
measure proportionate to the anticipated risks to the species.
Inclusion of all Manis species in CITES Appendix I could greatly enhance efforts to safeguard pangolins and support regulatory control mechanisms by non-range States,by placing an overall higher degree of international protection. However, this can only happen if national legislation provides for higher fines and punitive measures forillegal trade in Appendix I-listed species.

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17

CoP17 Prop. 12 [Angola, Botswana, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo and United Statesof America] Transfer of African pangolin species Manis tetradactyla, M. tricuspis, M. gigantea and M. temminckii from Appendix II to Appendix
I
Illegal and unregulated exploitation and, for three forest-dwelling species, habitat loss and degradation, are thought to be an increasing threat to all
African pangolin species. Although there are insufficient population data to determine whether the species meet the biological criteria for inclusion inAppendix I, there is increasing evidence of rapidly growing illegal international trade, largely of scales, to Asian markets. According to the Supporting
Statement, almost 15,000 kg of scales from African pangolins were seized between 2013 and 2015, representing an estimated 4,000 to 25,000 animals,
depending on the species. There is evidence that hunting intensity for pangolins in general in Africa has increased markedly in recent years and, given
their low productivity, this is very likely to have a significant impact on populations of all species.
African pangolins are clearly at risk of following the Asian species into serious decline due to illegal trade. Inclusion of these species in CITES Appendix
I could greatly enhance efforts to safeguard pangolins and support regulatory control mechanisms by placing an overall higher degree of international
protection. However, this can only happen if national legislation provides for higher fines and punitive measures for illegal trade in Appendix I-listedspecies.

ACCEPT

TRAFFIC Recommendations on the Proposals to amend the CITES appendices at CoP17