Phnom Penh - Cambodian customs officials acting on a tip rescued eight endangered pangolins from a bus in the central province of Pursat, local media reported Tuesday. The rescued animals weighed a total of 22.7 kilograms and included a 5-kilogram female which had just given birth to a healthy baby, the Kampuchea Thmey daily reported.
The paper said the scaly anteaters had been packed in boxes and concealed with paper. The smuggler escaped, it reported, and the animals were handed over to forestry officials for release.
Pangolin blood is believed by some to have strong medicinal qualities and wildlife experts say there is a strong illegal trade in them into neighbouring Vietnam and China for use in traditional medicine.
