29 Aug (Mon): Talk on "Understanding the dynamics of the pangolin trade"

Pangolins are found in Singapore! They are also found elsewhere in the region and sadly, the target of wildlife trade.

Pangolin photographed in Singapore by Norman Lim. From Wildlife Singapore.

Find out more about pangolins, and efforts to understand and control the trade in pangolins in the region.


More about pangolins in this earlier post.

About the talk
Pangolins have been hunted and consumed throughout Asia historically. In recent decades, however, there has been a shift from local utilisation to large scale commercial harvesting which is attributed to demand from East and Southeast Asian countries where pangolin meat is consumed and their scales used in traditional medicines. Despite national and international protection an illicit trade in Asian pangolins continues to persist and it is this that is threatening the very existence of the species. This talk comprises an introduction to the trade in Asian pangolins followed by a report of recent efforts to understand the dynamics of trade, in particular in Peninsular Malaysia, so that efforts to mitigate such activity can be informed and improved.

The funds raised by the pangolin gala dinner held on 18 April 2010 organised by Cicada Tree Eco-Place, Nature's Niche, Nature Society (Singapore), TRAFFIC and ACRES, and supported by National Parks Board, were used to fund research on an important study on the illegal trade in pangolins in the region. Here to give an update on the study to date, are Dan Challender and Nurul Bariyah Binti Babu.

Thanks to Singapore Botanic Gardens for kindly being the venue sponsor for this talk.

The speakers:

Daniel W. S. Challender, PhD Researcher, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent, UK
Daniel Challender started studying pangolins in 2007 as part of his MSc research with the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program, Vietnam. After spending two years working as an ecological consultant in the U.K, he returned to researching his favourite subject, the conservation of pangolins. He is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Kent’s Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) where he is studying the trade and conservation of pangolins in Asia.

Nurul Bariyah Binti Babu, Trainee Programme Officer, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia
Nurul Bariyah Binti Babu joined TRAFFIC Southeast Asia in early 2010 as a Trainee Programme Officer. She holds a Diploma in Landscape Architecture and a Bachelors degree in Park and Amenity Management. Since joining TRAFFIC Nurul has provided input into a variety of different projects but has most recently been involved in research exploring trade in timber and pangolins.

Time: 4-5pm
Venue: The Function Hall, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.