They’re trying to stop trafficking in the African ant-eater species whose scales are highly prized in Chinese medicine.

More than 3 000 pangolins would have had to be killed to provide the scales set alight by Malaysian officials.

They were confiscated from major anti-trafficking operations this past year.

Authorities have contacted the governments of South Africa, Cameroon and Ghana from which the pangolins originated.

Malaysia’s become major transit point in moving the grizzly goods to China, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Pangolins are one of the most trafficked species.

Under threat they roll into a ball allowing the poachers simply to lift it and put it in a bag.

The post Malaysian authorities torch nearly three tons of pangolin scales appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.