7 endangered animals seized from Chinese ‘wildlife smuggler’

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) took custody of seven endangered animals recently seized from a suspected Chinese wildlife smuggler by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Officials said criminal charges are being filed against Zhang Peimin for violation of the Wildlife Resources Conservation Act.

NBI regional director Ricardo Diaz said Zhang was caught in possession of four pangolins and three Palawan cobras, which are both under the “Red List” of animals threatened with extinction.

Diaz said the NBI received a tip of the planned transport of wildlife by Zhang and they immediately coordinated with the Clark Development security police.

Diaz said the security personnel intercepted Zhang at the intersection of Manuel A. Roxas Avenue-Yokohama where they found a box containing a sack of cobras and pangolins inside his Mitsubishi Grandis van.

Zhang failed to show any documents authorizing him to transport the wildlife species or any proof of ownership, Diaz said.

The DENR regional office said Zhang is not a holder of Certificate of Wildlife Registration, Wildlife Permit and/or Wildlife Collectors Permit or any other wildlife permit.

The DENR said pangolins are classified as a vulnerable species under the list of terrestrial threatened species.

It has become one of the most illegally traded animals in Southeast Asia, with live pangolins fetching up to $1,000 in the black market. Its meat is valued at $300 per kilogram, while its scales are traded at a price of $3,000 per kilogram.

“Pangolins are not endemic to Central Luzon and neither are these cobras. It is possible that these animals may have been smuggled from Palawan, where both species are found natively,” said Fred Sadueste, wildlife enforcement chief of DENR.

Officials said the confiscated cobras and pangolins would be transferred to a suitable wildlife rescue facility where they will be treated and cared for until they are fit to be released back into the wild.