Partial Protection for Pangolins

China has removed pangolin scales from the list of ingredients approved for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and upgraded the protection of pangolins to the highest level. Animal advocacy groups view the move as a key step in curbing the trade of this shy little mammal — the most trafficked animal in the world. An estimated 200,000 pangolins are consumed every year for their scales and meat in Asia, and they are a possible suspect for the transmission of Covid-19 from animals to humans.