NEWS: Pangolins on Chinese poacher boat

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Philippines discovers pangolins on Chinese poacher boat

Agence France-Presse
April 15, 2013

MANILA – The Philippine coast guard said Monday it had found hundreds of frozen scaly anteaters, or pangolins, in the cargo hold of a Chinese boat that ran aground in a protected marine sanctuary last week.

Wildlife officials have been informed of the surprising discovery, which could lead to more charges for the 12 Chinese men arrested on charges including poaching after their boat was stranded in Tubbataha Reef last week.

“We found 400 boxes containing anteaters aboard the vessel, and we are now determining where these came from,” coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo told AFP.

He could not say whether the pangolins were frozen alive, or had already been butchered as meat.

A protected species, pangolins are widely hunted in parts of Asia for their meat, skin and scales. In China, they are known as a delicacy and are purported to have medicinal qualities.

According to the International Union of Conservation of Nature, all eight species of the insect-eating mammals are protected by international laws around the world.

Two – the Malaysian and Chinese pangolins – are in its “red list” of endangered species.

Pangolins are also found roaming in the wild in the western Philippine island of Palawan, the nearest land area to Tubbataha Reef where the Chinese boat had been marooned.

Balilo said the vessel remained stuck in Tubbataha, while the coast guard awaited arrival of a salvage ship to tow it it away.

Prosecutors charged the 12 Chinese fishermen last week with illegal poaching and with corruption for attempting to bribe Filipinos officials, and if convicted they could face long jail terms.

It was not immediately clear however what additional charges, if any, are to be filed against them with the discovery of the pangolins, Balilo said.

The grounding of the 48-metre (157-foot) boat came amid deep tensions between the Philippines and China over competing territorial claims to the neighbouring South China Sea.

China claims virtually all of the South China Sea on historical grounds, including waters close to the shores of its neighbours.

The Philippines, as well as Vietnam, have accused China of bullying other claimants as it aggressively stakes out its claims.


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globalnation.inquirer.net/72095/philippines-discovers-pangolins-on-chinese-poacher-boat#ixzz2WKxaAxNV

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Inventory of Chinese boat’s cargo slated
21 Apr 2013

MANILA, Philippines—The Chinese fishing vessel found carrying thousands of kilos of scaly anteater meat that has been removed from the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan where it ran aground two weeks ago is now in the provincial capital of Puerto Princesa City where the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will conduct an inventory of its cargo.

PCG Palawan district chief Commodore Enrico Evangelista said the fishing boat Ming Long Yu arrived in Puerto Princesa at around 8:30 a.m. yesterday after it was towed from the reef by the MT Limay.

Evangelista told the Inquirer that the boat was generally “in good condition.” He said they would summon the vessel’s captain and chief engineer so they could be present when the PCG inspects the vessel.

In that case, whatever would be found on the boat would be known to have come from the vessel, he said.

Evangelista said the Coast Guard would also coordinate with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development on how to dispose of the ship’s cargo.

“We need to have an inventory to find out what’s inside. Everything should be in proper legal order,” he added.

Lt. Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said the boat would be held in custody by the Coast Guard and will be checked again for any hidden compartments.

Authorities found no fish or any contraband on board during an initial inspection when they boarded the boat for the first time a day after it struck the reef on April 8.

During closer inspection days later, Coast Guard officers discovered 400 boxes, each containing 25-30 kilograms (55-66 pounds) of frozen pangolins, or scaly anteaters, with their scales already removed.

Wildlife officials are still trying to determine which of the four Asian pangolin species the meat comes from. The International Union of Conservation of Nature lists two species as endangered—the Sunda, or Malayan, pangolin, and the Chinese pangolin. Two others, including the Philippine pangolin endemic to Palawan, are classified as near threatened.

The animals are protected in many Asian nations. Despite an international trade ban in effect since 2002, their trade continues illicitly. The meat and scales of the pangolin are believed to cure various ailments.

Balilo said the Tubbataha Management Office, which oversees the marine park, will examine the extent of reef damage to determine the amount of fines to be imposed on the Chinese boat owners.

The 12 Chinese nationals on the fishing vessel are now detained at the Palawan Provincial Jail after being charged with poaching and trying to bribe park officials. They entered a plea of not guilty to the poaching charge. With a report from AP

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Pangolin tissue test results out
23 Apr 2013

Manila, Philippines -- The results of tissue sampling and analysis of anteaters or pangolins discovered in a fishing vessel that ran aground the Tubbataha Reef will be known next week, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) Director Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim said.

However, Lim expressed that wildlife experts, who will verify if the anteaters belong to a native species, find it difficult to obtain tissue sample as "samples were not well preserved."

"We are having quite a hard time getting samples because it is not too well preserved, but we may still be able to get good ones for DNA. We will try to secure samples today (April 22) and bring it to Manila," Lim said.

About 400 boxes containing illegally-traded pangolins or scaly anteaters were seized from the F/N Min Long Yu, the same 48-meter Chinese fishing vessel, which ran aground the Tubbataha Reefs last April 8.

Each box was estimated to contain from five to six dressed and rolled-up pangolins, which means the vessel could be carrying as many as 2000 of the toothless, insect-eating creatures.

Lim said the samples will be brought to the University of the Philippine (UP) Institute of Biology in Diliman, Quezon City for analysis.

"We shall also need the skulls for comparison," she added.

The analysis will be made to determine the origin of the anteaters, whether they are native or non-native species.

"Tissue sampling and analysis, as well as comparison of skulls will be conducted this week. And the results will be available at least a week later," Lim said.

Regardless of the origin of the species, filing of charges in violation of the Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act will still be conducted against the 12 Chinese fishermen.

The fishermen are facing poaching charges in violation of RA 10067 for their illegal entry into the Tubbataha Reefs. They are also facing bribery charges allegedly for attempting to bribe Filipino officials.

Lim said pangolin or anteater is a vulnerable species that is at risk of extinction.

Resembling sloth-like olive lizards, pangolins are scaly mammals which range throughout Asia and Africa. Eight species exist, which are all threatened by habitat loss plus the illegal trade for their meat and unique scales, which are used for both traditional medicine and the curio trade.

Pangolins are widely hunted and traded for their supposed medicinal properties. They are among the most commonly encountered mammals in Asia's wildlife trade and alarming numbers have been seized throughout East and Southeast Asia in recent years.