<div><main data-testid="main-content" id="main-content"><article><header></header><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><picture><source srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg.webp 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg.webp 976w" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="Live pangolin" height="549" loading="eager" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/795E/production/_130607013_pangolingettyimages-1315662162.jpg 976w" width="976"></img></picture></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>Getty Images</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>All eight species of pangolin are threatened, with three listed as critically endangered</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="byline-block"><div><div><div><p>By Wedaeli Chibelushi</p><p>BBC News</p></div></div></div></div><div data-component="text-block"><p><b>Nigeria has burned $1.4m (£1.2m) worth of pangolin scales in a stand against trafficking, officials said.</b></p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>It is the first time the nation has publicly destroyed seized wildlife products for this reason.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The pangolin is one of the world's most trafficked mammals - their scales are in high demand in traditional Chinese medicine.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Nigeria is a major transit hub for African pangolin scales and other wildlife products trafficked to Asia.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"These seized items represent the past we leave behind, but the destruction signifies the future we are determined to build for our planet," Environment Minister Iziaq Adekunle said before the burning took place in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. </p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>"The destruction of these seized items is a powerful statement of our resolve to protect our environment, conserve our wildlife, and combat the illegal trade that drives species to the brink of extinction." </p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><span></span></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>NESREA/Facebook</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>The scales were incinerated publicly in Abuja, Nigeria's capital</p></figcaption></figure></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Almost four tonnes of pangolin scales were destroyed alongside seized leopard, python and crocodile skins.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>The agency had confiscated the scales in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and a pan-African alliance named the Elephant Protection Initiative.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>And last year, Nigerian customs officials seized 1,613 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrested 14 people, Nigeria's Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency said.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Pangolins are the only mammals in the world to be covered in scales, which are made from keratin, the same substance found in human fingernails.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Four species live in Africa, across countries in the the south, east and centre of the continent. The creature is near extinct in Nigeria, so pangolins smuggled from there are likely to be from other countries, UNODC said.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>Asia is home to the other four species, although they have been totally wiped out in the continent's vast south-east region.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>According to animal charity Wild Aid, up to 200,000 pangolins are thought to be taken from the wild every year. It is not known how many are left globally - the animals are notoriously difficult to monitor because they are shy and nocturnal.</p></div><div data-component="text-block"><p>According to UNODC, seizures of pangolin scales increased tenfold between 2014 and 2018.</p></div><div data-component="image-block"><figure><p><span><span></span></span><span role="text"><span>Image source, </span>NESREA/Facebook</span></p><figcaption><span>Image caption, </span><p>The destruction took place in front of NGOs and government officials</p></figcaption></figure></div></article></main></div>