Trafficked pangolin DNA reveals hotspots of illegal wildlife trade (IMAGE)

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Trafficked pangolin DNA reveals hotspots of illegal wildlife trade

Caption

White-bellied pangolin rescued in the Democratic Republic of Congo being released back into the wild. Through millions of years of evolution, the pangolin has developed an extraordinary defense: curling into a tight ball of hard, keratinized scales to deter natural predators. Tragically, this same instinct offers no protection against humans, making it an easy target for poaching.

Credit

Darren Pietersen (CC-BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Usage Restrictions

Credit must be given to the creator.

License

CC BY

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