The case was an important one, involving multiple perpetrators operating across borders in two different continents, a criminal network trading in both poached elephant ivory and pangolin scales
Pangolins have been the focus of growing attention in recent years due to the massive quantities of their scales illegally traded for traditional medicine produced in China
The legal market in pangolin ‘medicines’ is a key driver of the persistent demand and it is vital that the Chinese Government bans the use of pangolin scales as well as the products of other threatened species
In an indication that China is getting serious about properly prosecuting wildlife criminals, a court in Jiangsu province has jailed a man for 11-and-a-half years and confiscated about £54,900 (500,000 RMB) worth of his private assets for ivory smuggling
We have seen some significant changes in China’s wildlife trade policy - what major concerns remain and what might happen next?
Scientists and public health professionals have for years been warning the world another serious pandemic could happen at any moment and that the global community was unprepared for it