Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world, in large part due to demand from Chinese consumers. In The Pangolin Reports, we investigate their role in global conservation efforts. Scientists are pointing to these peculiar creatures as a possible source of the coronavirus outbreak in China, where a temporary ban on all wildlife trade is now in force. Could this mean fresh hope for pangolins? Why are they so sought-after? And why, despite laws preventing their trade, have they been hunted to the point of extinction?
14 FEBRUARY 2020
Pangolins: the most trafficked mammal in the world and now possibly linked to the coronavirus epidemic. Why are these shy creatures so sought after by Chinese – and why is China struggling to battle the illegal pangolin trade? Join us as we go undercover to follow reporters who produced The Pangolin Reports to answer these questions.
EPISODE 2
MYANMAR, NEPAL, INDONESIA
21 FEBRUARY 2020
Pangolins have been around for over 80 million years. Yet China’s demand is pushing them to the edge of extinction…How are these pangolins being trafficked from their natural habitats in Africa and Asia into China? We interview journalists from Myanmar, Nepal, and Indonesia: they explain why this trafficking is damaging the social fabric of their countries.
EPISODE 3
UPDATE ON CORONAVIRUS AND CHINA’S WILDLIFE TRADE BAN
1 MARCH 2020
Before releasing the final two episodes of The Pangolin Reports, Marcy and Bonnie take a brief look at China’s coronavirus outbreak that kicked off just as we started releasing this podcast series – an epidemic that has completely changed the face of China’s wildlife trade.
12 MARCH 2020
Vietnam is the world’s second largest destination for the illegal trade in pangolins after China. And there’s an even more serious problem facing the pangolins, which used to be common in Malaysia’s forests – and habitat destruction isn’t just a problem for pangolins – it’s a problem for all of us.
EPISODE 5
WILL CORONAVIRUS CHANGE THE FATE OF PANGOLINS IN CHINA?
9 APRIL 2020
Pangolins do not survive well in captivity. But when a local NGO in China tried to save a handful of these seized pangolins by releasing them back into the wild, it stirred up a storm of controversy. Why is saving the pangolins such a thorny issue?