Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol
Abstract Conservation plans aiming to reduce the threat of illegal wildlife trade increasingly recognize the need for multifaceted approaches that include both enhanced enforcement and demand reduction initiatives. Both are complex issues that involve understanding consumer motives. Pangolins repres...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.82 |
| _version_ | 1823955248958406656 |
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| author | Rachel L. Jacobs Pamela J. McClure Barry W. Baker Edgard O. Espinoza |
| author_facet | Rachel L. Jacobs Pamela J. McClure Barry W. Baker Edgard O. Espinoza |
| author_sort | Rachel L. Jacobs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Conservation plans aiming to reduce the threat of illegal wildlife trade increasingly recognize the need for multifaceted approaches that include both enhanced enforcement and demand reduction initiatives. Both are complex issues that involve understanding consumer motives. Pangolins represent some of the most heavily trafficked species, largely due to high consumer demand for their scales for use in traditional medicines. Recent media reports also suggest that demand is related to the purported presence of the analgesic tramadol in scales. We examined chemotypes of scales from 104 individual pangolins representing all extant species. None of the specimens demonstrated the presence of tramadol. Given that demand for pangolins and their parts is decimating wild populations, it is imperative that such false claims be rectified. These results could be incorporated into demand reduction campaigns in areas where this misinformation is perpetuated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T14:56:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-15ce176bcddf4d64923c39ca96842ada |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T14:56:57Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-15ce176bcddf4d64923c39ca96842ada2022-12-21T21:44:01ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542019-09-0119n/an/a10.1111/csp2.82Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadolRachel L. Jacobs0Pamela J. McClure1Barry W. Baker2Edgard O. Espinoza3U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory Ashland OregonU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory Ashland OregonU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory Ashland OregonU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory Ashland OregonAbstract Conservation plans aiming to reduce the threat of illegal wildlife trade increasingly recognize the need for multifaceted approaches that include both enhanced enforcement and demand reduction initiatives. Both are complex issues that involve understanding consumer motives. Pangolins represent some of the most heavily trafficked species, largely due to high consumer demand for their scales for use in traditional medicines. Recent media reports also suggest that demand is related to the purported presence of the analgesic tramadol in scales. We examined chemotypes of scales from 104 individual pangolins representing all extant species. None of the specimens demonstrated the presence of tramadol. Given that demand for pangolins and their parts is decimating wild populations, it is imperative that such false claims be rectified. These results could be incorporated into demand reduction campaigns in areas where this misinformation is perpetuated.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.82CITESconservationconsumer demandManidaeManisPhataginus |
| spellingShingle | Rachel L. Jacobs Pamela J. McClure Barry W. Baker Edgard O. Espinoza Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol Conservation Science and Practice CITES conservation consumer demand Manidae Manis Phataginus |
| title | Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol |
| title_full | Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol |
| title_fullStr | Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol |
| title_full_unstemmed | Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol |
| title_short | Myth debunked: Keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol |
| title_sort | myth debunked keratinous pangolin scales do not contain the analgesic tramadol |
| topic | CITES conservation consumer demand Manidae Manis Phataginus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.82 |
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